newsweek--2020-12-10--Nigeria Deserves the U.S.'s Tough Love on Religious Freedom | Opinion

This week , Nigeria received some well-deserved tough love from the United States—its friend and ally .
On Monday , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added the African nation to the Department of State 's annual list of the world 's most heinous violators of religious freedom .
The secretary said , `` The United States will continue to work tirelessly to end religiously motivated abuses and persecution around the world , and to help ensure that each person , everywhere , at all times , has the right to live according to the dictates of conscience . ''
Nigeria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only secular democracy ever added to the infamous list .
The country will be listed alongside Iran , China and North Korea .
That 's because , like those countries , Nigeria is either unwilling or unable to provide this fundamental human right to its citizenry .
It 's an astonishing indictment of Africa 's largest economy and most populated country .
It is a direct signal that the patience the United States has long reserved for its great African friend is wearing thin .
It also demonstrates a change in public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer sit idly by amid reports and images from almost daily atrocities .
`` Why , '' they and many elected officials are beginning to ask , `` are we sending one billion dollars in U.S. taxpayer assistance annually ? ''
We hope , as we wrote in our book The Next Jihad , that this decision will be a sufficient shock to the Nigerian system that the deadly status quo will change , immediately and permanently .
The Nigerian government should n't do it for the United States .
It should act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Nigerian families whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed , whose children have been kidnapped and whose clergy have been massacred in grotesque videos placed brazenly posted on the internet .
The terrorists have even taunted Nigeria 's leaders as if they already own the country .
This situation has become so outrageous that even a Christian wedding was attacked earlier this year .
Spraying bullets in the air and screaming `` Allahu Akbar , '' the terrorists kidnapped everyone who was unable to escape—including the bride and groom .
Not long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the terrorists killed so many families that it 's hard to keep track of them .
One father was 40 and his wife was 32 .
Their children were thirteen , six and four .
Another mom in the same village was killed .
Afterwards they hacked to death her six-year-old , and shot her three-month-old .
During a recent visit , we met with multiple survivors of terrorism who described to us the selection process employed by terrorist kidnappers along the country 's well-traveled highways .
A recently ransomed young woman told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others their religions , with the intention of releasing the Muslim men , shooting the Christian men and kidnapping the Christian women .
Though it has the muscle to finish off the terrorist insurgency in the northeastern part of the country , the Nigerian government has failed to show the political will to do so .
Unsurprisingly it now faces a second front with radicalized Fulani tribesmen in the Middle Belt who are increasingly appropriating the terrorist tactics of Boko Haram and ISIS in West Africa as they pillage and burn Christian communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's time for Nigeria 's government to start calling terrorism by its name , whether perpetrated by Boko Haram , ISIS or the small subgroup of radicalized Fulani tribesmen—the tribe of President Muhammadu Buhari himself .
The United States is sending a clear message : enough is enough .
Now , Nigeria 's leaders have a choice : Take the necessary action to end the terrorist insurgencies in the northeast , stop the raids in the center of the country , prosecute every perpetrator and end the endemic corruption that facilitates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Nigeria can further isolate itself—ignoring the warnings of its friends—and fall further into the arms of China 's oil-hungry communists or make itself more vulnerable to the ambitions of others ( like Iran ) in the region .
That choice is not up to the current or incoming U.S. secretary of state .
It 's up to the Nigerians themselves .
Many Christians in Nigeria are approaching this Christmas with a sense of dread , as traveling to see loved ones over the holidays will make them especially vulnerable targets for brazen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murder perpetrated by terrorists and their associates .
It must stop now .
People of faith have the right to be protected .
Nigeria , like every government , has a responsibility to keep them safe .
The United States of America has made its opinion clear .
This Christmas all eyes will be on Nigeria .
We know what the terrorists are planning .
Will Abuja finally have the courage to end the carnage once and for all ?
Rabbi Abraham Cooper and Rev .
Johnnie Moore are the authors of The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Africa .
The views expressed in this article are the writers ' own .

This week, Nigeria received some well-deserved tough love from the United States—its friend and ally. On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added the African nation to the Department of State's annual list of the world's most heinous violators of religious freedom.
The secretary said, "The United States will continue to work tirelessly to end religiously motivated abuses and persecution around the world, and to help ensure that each person, everywhere, at all times, has the right to live according to the dictates of conscience."
Nigeria now has the unfortunate distinction of being the only secular democracy ever added to the infamous list.
The country will be listed alongside Iran, China and North Korea. That's because, like those countries, Nigeria is either unwilling or unable to provide this fundamental human right to its citizenry.
It's an astonishing indictment of Africa's largest economy and most populated country. It is a direct signal that the patience the United States has long reserved for its great African friend is wearing thin. It also demonstrates a change in public opinion in the United States—Americans will no longer sit idly by amid reports and images from almost daily atrocities. "Why," they and many elected officials are beginning to ask, "are we sending one billion dollars in U.S. taxpayer assistance annually?"
We hope, as we wrote in our book The Next Jihad, that this decision will be a sufficient shock to the Nigerian system that the deadly status quo will change, immediately and permanently.
The Nigerian government shouldn't do it for the United States. It should act on behalf of the tens of thousands of Nigerian families whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed, whose children have been kidnapped and whose clergy have been massacred in grotesque videos placed brazenly posted on the internet. The terrorists have even taunted Nigeria's leaders as if they already own the country.
This situation has become so outrageous that even a Christian wedding was attacked earlier this year. Spraying bullets in the air and screaming "Allahu Akbar," the terrorists kidnapped everyone who was unable to escape—including the bride and groom. Not long after, in a neighboring village, the terrorists killed so many families that it's hard to keep track of them. One father was 40 and his wife was 32. Their children were thirteen, six and four. Another mom in the same village was killed. Afterwards they hacked to death her six-year-old, and shot her three-month-old. During a recent visit, we met with multiple survivors of terrorism who described to us the selection process employed by terrorist kidnappers along the country's well-traveled highways. A recently ransomed young woman told us the terrorists had asked her and others their religions, with the intention of releasing the Muslim men, shooting the Christian men and kidnapping the Christian women.
President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari addresses the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters on September 24, 2019 in New York City. Drew Angerer/Getty
Though it has the muscle to finish off the terrorist insurgency in the northeastern part of the country, the Nigerian government has failed to show the political will to do so. Unsurprisingly it now faces a second front with radicalized Fulani tribesmen in the Middle Belt who are increasingly appropriating the terrorist tactics of Boko Haram and ISIS in West Africa as they pillage and burn Christian communities by the hundreds—killing thousands along the way.
It's time for Nigeria's government to start calling terrorism by its name, whether perpetrated by Boko Haram, ISIS or the small subgroup of radicalized Fulani tribesmen—the tribe of President Muhammadu Buhari himself.
The United States is sending a clear message: enough is enough.
Now, Nigeria's leaders have a choice: Take the necessary action to end the terrorist insurgencies in the northeast, stop the raids in the center of the country, prosecute every perpetrator and end the endemic corruption that facilitates nationwide kidnapping and extortion schemes.
Or, Nigeria can further isolate itself—ignoring the warnings of its friends—and fall further into the arms of China's oil-hungry communists or make itself more vulnerable to the ambitions of others (like Iran) in the region. That choice is not up to the current or incoming U.S. secretary of state. It's up to the Nigerians themselves.
Many Christians in Nigeria are approaching this Christmas with a sense of dread, as traveling to see loved ones over the holidays will make them especially vulnerable targets for brazen kidnapping and other forms of mayhem and murder perpetrated by terrorists and their associates. It must stop now.
People of faith have the right to be protected. Nigeria, like every government, has a responsibility to keep them safe.
The United States of America has made its opinion clear. This Christmas all eyes will be on Nigeria. We know what the terrorists are planning. Will Abuja finally have the courage to end the carnage once and for all?
Rabbi Abraham Cooper and Rev. Johnnie Moore are the authors of The Next Jihad: Stop the Christian Genocide in Africa.
The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Stephen Colbert Compares Donald Trump's Election Lawsuits to Trying to Hold Melania's Hand

Stephen Colbert has brutally mocked President Donald Trump , comparing the president 's legal losses to the first lady rejecting holding his hand .
`` The president 's legal losing streak continues , '' the late-night host said on Wednesday night 's episode of The Late Show .
`` Yesterday , the Nevada Supreme Court rejected his campaign 's appeal to overturn Biden 's win , and the Supreme Court rejected Pennsylvania Republicans ' attempt to block Biden 's victory . ''
Colbert added : `` This president has n't faced this much rejection since every time he has tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he 's getting more desperate . ''
Trump lost another lawsuit in Nevada yesterday , following his defeats in Georgia , Arizona , Pennsylvania .
Claims of mass voter fraud were rejected in the state after a team of Trump lawyers claimed the use of an automated signature verification machine in Clark County was unlawful and allowed fraudulent ballots to be counted .
They also made baseless claims that ballots were cast by illegitimate voters , including people who have died .
The Supreme Court rejected the claims .
`` To prevail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error of law , findings of fact not supported by substantial evidence , or an abuse of discretion in the admission or rejection of evidence by the district court , '' Tuesday 's ruling said .
`` We are not convinced they have done so .
Despite our earlier order asking appellants to identify specific findings with which they take issue , appellants have not pointed to any unsupported factual findings , and we have identified none . ''
Colbert 's hand holding joke famously refers to the numerous videos of the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hold her hand at public engagements .
In August of this year , a video of Mr. and Mrs. Trump went viral that appeared to show Melania refusing to hold the hand of her husband repeatedly as they climbed down the steps of Air Force One .
Though Melania may have been preventing her skirt from blowing in the wind , Twitter exploded with mockery for the president 's spurned advances .
A similar incident took place in 2017 , when the couple appeared at a rally in Florida and Melania appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her .
She also appeared to smack his hand away on arrival in Israel .
In 2018 , she appeared to bat away his touch on camera again .
According to Grazia , a former aide and friend of Melania 's , Stephanie Winston Wolkoff , once spoke to The Washington Post about her aversion to holding her husband 's hand seems to be a recurring thing .
`` They are not that couple that holds hands just because : she is old-world European and it 's not who she is , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump comes following Jimmy Kimmel 's lambasting of lawyer Jenna Ellis for contracting coronavirus , days after Rudy Giuliani tested positive for the virus .

Stephen Colbert has brutally mocked President Donald Trump, comparing the president's legal losses to the first lady rejecting holding his hand.
"The president's legal losing streak continues," the late-night host said on Wednesday night's episode of The Late Show. "Yesterday, the Nevada Supreme Court rejected his campaign's appeal to overturn Biden's win, and the Supreme Court rejected Pennsylvania Republicans' attempt to block Biden's victory."
Colbert added: "This president hasn't faced this much rejection since every time he has tried to hold Melania's hand. So, he's getting more desperate."
Trump lost another lawsuit in Nevada yesterday, following his defeats in Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania.
Claims of mass voter fraud were rejected in the state after a team of Trump lawyers claimed the use of an automated signature verification machine in Clark County was unlawful and allowed fraudulent ballots to be counted.
The type of rejection we LOVE to see, goodnight! #LSSC pic.twitter.com/sSnYwEyxg8 — A Late Show (@colbertlateshow) December 10, 2020
They also made baseless claims that ballots were cast by illegitimate voters, including people who have died.
The Supreme Court rejected the claims. "To prevail on this appeal, appellants must demonstrate error of law, findings of fact not supported by substantial evidence, or an abuse of discretion in the admission or rejection of evidence by the district court," Tuesday's ruling said.
"We are not convinced they have done so. Despite our earlier order asking appellants to identify specific findings with which they take issue, appellants have not pointed to any unsupported factual findings, and we have identified none."
Colbert's hand holding joke famously refers to the numerous videos of the first lady seemingly rejecting her husband's attempts to hold her hand at public engagements.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump step off Air Force One upon arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Airport on May 23, 2017. FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images
In August of this year, a video of Mr. and Mrs. Trump went viral that appeared to show Melania refusing to hold the hand of her husband repeatedly as they climbed down the steps of Air Force One.
Though Melania may have been preventing her skirt from blowing in the wind, Twitter exploded with mockery for the president's spurned advances.
A similar incident took place in 2017, when the couple appeared at a rally in Florida and Melania appeared to physically recoil when her husband touched her. She also appeared to smack his hand away on arrival in Israel.
In 2018, she appeared to bat away his touch on camera again.
According to Grazia, a former aide and friend of Melania's, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, once spoke to The Washington Post about her aversion to holding her husband's hand seems to be a recurring thing.
"They are not that couple that holds hands just because: she is old-world European and it's not who she is," Winston Wolkoff said.
Colbert's mocking of Trump comes following Jimmy Kimmel's lambasting of lawyer Jenna Ellis for contracting coronavirus, days after Rudy Giuliani tested positive for the virus.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Brandon Bernard Executed After Supreme Court Denies a Stay of Execution

Brandon Bernard was put to death Thursday night , after a final legal petition brought to the Supreme Court to stay the execution failed .
Bernard , 40 , received a lethal injection at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute , Indiana .
The execution received widespread national attention , partly because of Kim Kardashian West championing Bernard 's cause on social media , in addition to public pleas from Senators Cory Booker and Richard Durbin .
Along with general criticism of the death penalty , the conversation around Bernard involved an argument about the fairness of his sentencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in arguing that the execution should not take place .
Though his execution was scheduled for 6 p.m. , it was delayed several hours for the legal challenges to be wrapped up .
The Supreme Court ruled at approximately 8:20 p.m. to deny the stay of execution .
Justices Stephen Breyer , Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor dissented in the ruling .
`` Bernard has never had the opportunity to test the merits of those claims in court .
Now he never will , '' Sotomayor wrote .
Bernard , 40 , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministers when he was 18 years old .
He was one of five teenagers in a local Texas gang who were found responsible in the double murder of two youth ministers following a carjacking .
Three other accomplices were n't eligible for the death penalty , though , because they were minors at the time of the crime .
Since the murders took place on Fort Hood 's military reservation , it was deemed a federal crime .
Bernard , according to his original court ruling , helped burn the ministers ' car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their killings .
The person responsible for the actual shootings was then-19-year-old Christopher Vialva , who was put to death by lethal injection in September .
The petition to the Supreme Court on Bernard 's behalf was submitted to Justice Samuel Alito by Bernard 's counsel , Robert Owen and John Carpenter .
In the filing , his attorneys argued , `` At the time of his trial , the government was in possession of favorable information relevant to his sentence , but not to his guilt of the underlying offenses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Bernard 's trial attorneys , either prior to trial or during the initial proceeding . ''
Citing two other cases that set the precedent for a stay of execution , the petition states the original judgment against Bernard was obtained in a proceeding that did n't meet the standards of justice .
Furthermore , the petition argued , his case presented `` a significant possibility of reversal of the lower court 's decision '' and thus the execution must not proceed .
The Supreme Court 's 7th Circuit , which is responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not agree with his attorney and upheld the execution order .
Before the court 's ruling , Bernard 's chances for a stay were n't promising .
His lawyers tried to halt the execution with two prior motions , one of which was decided just this week in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Indiana .
In his decision on that motion on Tuesday , Judge James Sweeney ruled that an expert witness ' statement that Bernard was only a low-level member of his gang was n't compelling enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conviction .
Bernard was the ninth prisoner put to death since President Donald Trump resumed executions in July following a 17-year hiatus .
A tenth prisoner , Alfred Bourgeois , is scheduled for execution on Friday , but the Supreme Court must first rule on a petition for clemency in his case .
A Change.org petition requesting a stay of execution for Bernard gained more than 500,00 signatures .
That request , and many social media messages , asked Trump to halt the execution but to no avail .

Brandon Bernard was put to death Thursday night, after a final legal petition brought to the Supreme Court to stay the execution failed. Bernard, 40, received a lethal injection at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana.
The execution received widespread national attention, partly because of Kim Kardashian West championing Bernard's cause on social media, in addition to public pleas from Senators Cory Booker and Richard Durbin. Along with general criticism of the death penalty, the conversation around Bernard involved an argument about the fairness of his sentencing. Thursday afternoon, Alan Dershowitz joined in arguing that the execution should not take place.
Though his execution was scheduled for 6 p.m., it was delayed several hours for the legal challenges to be wrapped up. The Supreme Court ruled at approximately 8:20 p.m. to deny the stay of execution. Justices Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor dissented in the ruling.
"Bernard has never had the opportunity to test the merits of those claims in court. Now he never will," Sotomayor wrote.
Bernard was pronounced dead at 9:27 p.m.
Brandon Bernard. Courtesy of attorneys for Brandon Bernard
Bernard, 40, was convicted of the murder of two youth ministers when he was 18 years old. He was one of five teenagers in a local Texas gang who were found responsible in the double murder of two youth ministers following a carjacking. Three other accomplices weren't eligible for the death penalty, though, because they were minors at the time of the crime. Since the murders took place on Fort Hood's military reservation, it was deemed a federal crime.
Bernard, according to his original court ruling, helped burn the ministers' car, and it was his gun used for their killings. The person responsible for the actual shootings was then-19-year-old Christopher Vialva, who was put to death by lethal injection in September.
The petition to the Supreme Court on Bernard's behalf was submitted to Justice Samuel Alito by Bernard's counsel, Robert Owen and John Carpenter. In the filing, his attorneys argued, "At the time of his trial, the government was in possession of favorable information relevant to his sentence, but not to his guilt of the underlying offenses. The government never disclosed that information to Mr. Bernard's trial attorneys, either prior to trial or during the initial proceeding."
Citing two other cases that set the precedent for a stay of execution, the petition states the original judgment against Bernard was obtained in a proceeding that didn't meet the standards of justice. Furthermore, the petition argued, his case presented "a significant possibility of reversal of the lower court's decision" and thus the execution must not proceed. The Supreme Court's 7th Circuit, which is responsible for hearing appeals from circuit courts, did not agree with his attorney and upheld the execution order.
Before the court's ruling, Bernard's chances for a stay weren't promising. His lawyers tried to halt the execution with two prior motions, one of which was decided just this week in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Indiana. In his decision on that motion on Tuesday, Judge James Sweeney ruled that an expert witness' statement that Bernard was only a low-level member of his gang wasn't compelling enough to challenge the jurors' death sentence conviction.
Bernard was the ninth prisoner put to death since President Donald Trump resumed executions in July following a 17-year hiatus. A tenth prisoner, Alfred Bourgeois, is scheduled for execution on Friday, but the Supreme Court must first rule on a petition for clemency in his case.
A Change.org petition requesting a stay of execution for Bernard gained more than 500,00 signatures. That request, and many social media messages, asked Trump to halt the execution but to no avail.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Swing States Respond to Texas Lawsuit: 'A Mass of Baseless Claims'

Attorneys General from four states named in a wide-ranging lawsuit that seeks to overturn the results of the presidential election filed their responding briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday .
The lawsuit , which was filed directly with the U.S. Supreme Court by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton , asked the court to prevent the states of Wisconsin , Pennsylvania , Georgia and Michigan from sending their appointed electors to vote in the Electoral College .
All four states were won by President-elect Joe Biden .
President Donald Trump , who has yet to concede the election to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter fraud contributed to results .
Trump has also recently claimed that he was the true winner of the election , despite Biden 's projected victory .
In the responding briefs , the Attorneys General of the four named states appeared to agree that Paxton 's lawsuit had no basis in fact .
`` Not only is the complaint meritless here , '' wrote the office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel , `` but its jurisdictional flaws abound and provide solid ground to dispose of this action . ''
`` The election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brief added .
Legal counsel for the state of Georgia , including Attorney General Christopher Carr , wrote that the `` novel and far-reaching claims that Texas asserts , and the breathtaking remedies it seeks , are impossible to ground in legal principles and unmanageable . ''
Wisconsin Attorney General Joshua Kaul said that , among other things , Texas waited too long to file the lawsuit .
`` If Texas had brought a timely challenge before the election—and succeeded—Wisconsin voters could have adjusted their understanding of applicable voting procedures and cast their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Instead , '' Kaul continued , `` Texas waited until after the election and now seeks to pull the rug out from under voters who can not recast their ballots .
Rewarding this delay would obviously prejudice—indeed , disenfranchise—the millions of Wisconsin voters who cast their ballots in reliance on these long announced election practices . ''
`` What Texas is doing in this proceeding is to ask this Court to reconsider a mass of baseless claims about problems with the election that have already been considered , and rejected , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' read the response from Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro .
Shapiro also described Paxton 's lawsuit as `` legally indefensible '' and `` an affront to principles of constitutional democracy . ''
Paxton 's filing alleges that the states in question changed their election processes due to the COVID-19 pandemic without the permission of state legislatures .
Because the responsibility of choosing electors rests on the state legislators according to the U.S. Constitution , Paxton contends that the electors were appointed through an invalid process .
Paxton also claimed that the alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the lawsuit would `` irreparable harm '' Texas `` by denying representation in the presidency and in the Senate in the near term and by permanently sowing distrust in federal elections . ''
Trump petitioned the Supreme Court on Wednesday to become a part of the lawsuit .
More than 100 GOP lawmakers have signed an amicus brief in support of Paxton 's litigation .
Some states have offered their support for the lawsuit with 6 Republican states calling to become a part of the case .
The U.S. Supreme Court has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it would conduct a hearing on the Texas lawsuit .
Newsweek reached out to the Trump campaign for comment .

Attorneys General from four states named in a wide-ranging lawsuit that seeks to overturn the results of the presidential election filed their responding briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday.
The lawsuit, which was filed directly with the U.S. Supreme Court by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, asked the court to prevent the states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Michigan from sending their appointed electors to vote in the Electoral College. All four states were won by President-elect Joe Biden.
President Donald Trump, who has yet to concede the election to Biden, has baselessly alleged that widespread voter fraud contributed to results. Trump has also recently claimed that he was the true winner of the election, despite Biden's projected victory. In the responding briefs, the Attorneys General of the four named states appeared to agree that Paxton's lawsuit had no basis in fact.
"Not only is the complaint meritless here," wrote the office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, "but its jurisdictional flaws abound and provide solid ground to dispose of this action."
"The election in Michigan is over," the brief added.
Legal counsel for the state of Georgia, including Attorney General Christopher Carr, wrote that the "novel and far-reaching claims that Texas asserts, and the breathtaking remedies it seeks, are impossible to ground in legal principles and unmanageable."
Wisconsin Attorney General Joshua Kaul said that, among other things, Texas waited too long to file the lawsuit. "If Texas had brought a timely challenge before the election—and succeeded—Wisconsin voters could have adjusted their understanding of applicable voting procedures and cast their ballots accordingly," the brief read.
A lawsuit challenging the results of the presidential election seeks to allow President Donald Trump to obtain a second term in the White House. Tasos Katopodis/Getty
"Instead," Kaul continued, "Texas waited until after the election and now seeks to pull the rug out from under voters who cannot recast their ballots. Rewarding this delay would obviously prejudice—indeed, disenfranchise—the millions of Wisconsin voters who cast their ballots in reliance on these long announced election practices."
"What Texas is doing in this proceeding is to ask this Court to reconsider a mass of baseless claims about problems with the election that have already been considered, and rejected, by this Court and other courts," read the response from Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
Shapiro also described Paxton's lawsuit as "legally indefensible" and "an affront to principles of constitutional democracy."
Paxton's filing alleges that the states in question changed their election processes due to the COVID-19 pandemic without the permission of state legislatures. Because the responsibility of choosing electors rests on the state legislators according to the U.S. Constitution, Paxton contends that the electors were appointed through an invalid process.
Paxton also claimed that the alleged election improprieties committed by the states named in the lawsuit would "irreparable harm" Texas "by denying representation in the presidency and in the Senate in the near term and by permanently sowing distrust in federal elections."
Trump petitioned the Supreme Court on Wednesday to become a part of the lawsuit. More than 100 GOP lawmakers have signed an amicus brief in support of Paxton's litigation. Some states have offered their support for the lawsuit with 6 Republican states calling to become a part of the case.
The U.S. Supreme Court has not yet announced when, or if, it would conduct a hearing on the Texas lawsuit. Newsweek reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Sen. Sanders and Hawley Push Dems and GOP to Vote for Standalone Stimulus Checks

On Thursday , Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri and Independent Senator and former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders of Vermont pushed colleagues to vote for a second round of stimulus checks to help struggling and unemployed Americans suffering economic hardship due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic .
In separate speeches , both senators said the checks should mirror those issued early in the pandemic which gave $ 1,200 to adults and $ 500 for each child .
Each senator also reminded their colleagues that the checks were passed with bipartisan and presidential approval at a point when the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hawley and Sanders suggested voting on the checks as a standalone item for quick approval rather than the measure in a more comprehensive stimulus package that has repeatedly stalled out for months during ongoing negotiations between Republicans and Democrats .
`` If the Senate ca n't agree on a larger COVID relief bill , I 'm not going to allow working families to be held hostage , '' Hawley said .
`` It 's already happened once this year ... we have to make sure it happens again . ''
In Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of millions of Americans have lost their jobs and health insurance during the pandemic .
Some have depleted their life savings , avoided getting medical care , are going hungry or will owe thousands in back-owed rent once the national eviction moratorium ends .
The Black and Latino communities have been hit especially hard , he added .
`` In the midst of so much economic desperation , Congress can not go on recess without providing this $ 1,200 emergency assistance to the American people in their time of need , '' Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working across the aisle with Senator Hawley to ensure that the United States Senate passes this amendment . ''
Hawley added that he had spoken with President Donald Trump and gotten his agreement to sign off on a second round of checks should such a proposal reach his desk .
The senators want to get the checks attached to a continuing resolution that would need to pass by Friday in order to get a vote by next week , before congresspeople head home for winter break .
On Thursday , a report from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment claims filed just last week by Americans who had n't done so before .
The figure represented an increase from the previous week , and the third uptick in the past four weeks .
Enhanced federal unemployment benefits giving $ 600 extra to unemployed Americans are set to expire by the end of the year .
Earlier this month , a group of Republican and Democratic senators and representatives touted a new $ 908 billion stimulus proposal which would provide an additional $ 300 in enhanced federal unemployment benefits—half of what was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checks for individuals .

On Thursday, Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri and Independent Senator and former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders of Vermont pushed colleagues to vote for a second round of stimulus checks to help struggling and unemployed Americans suffering economic hardship due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic.
In separate speeches, both senators said the checks should mirror those issued early in the pandemic which gave $1,200 to adults and $500 for each child. Each senator also reminded their colleagues that the checks were passed with bipartisan and presidential approval at a point when the pandemic was less severe than it is now.
Hawley and Sanders suggested voting on the checks as a standalone item for quick approval rather than the measure in a more comprehensive stimulus package that has repeatedly stalled out for months during ongoing negotiations between Republicans and Democrats.
On Thursday, Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders and Republican Senator Josh Hawley urged Congress to vote on a second round of stimulus checks. In this October 22, 2020 photo, Sanders speaks at a protest calling for the Republican Senate to delay the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Nominee Amy Coney Barrett. Jemal Countess/Care In Action
"If the Senate can't agree on a larger COVID relief bill, I'm not going to allow working families to be held hostage," Hawley said. "It's already happened once this year... we have to make sure it happens again."
In Sanders' speech, he mentioned that tens of millions of Americans have lost their jobs and health insurance during the pandemic. Some have depleted their life savings, avoided getting medical care, are going hungry or will owe thousands in back-owed rent once the national eviction moratorium ends. The Black and Latino communities have been hit especially hard, he added.
"In the midst of so much economic desperation, Congress cannot go on recess without providing this $1,200 emergency assistance to the American people in their time of need," Sanders said. "I look forward to working across the aisle with Senator Hawley to ensure that the United States Senate passes this amendment."
Hawley added that he had spoken with President Donald Trump and gotten his agreement to sign off on a second round of checks should such a proposal reach his desk.
The senators want to get the checks attached to a continuing resolution that would need to pass by Friday in order to get a vote by next week, before congresspeople head home for winter break.
On Thursday, a report from the Labor Department showed 1.4 million new unemployment claims filed just last week by Americans who hadn't done so before. The figure represented an increase from the previous week, and the third uptick in the past four weeks. Enhanced federal unemployment benefits giving $600 extra to unemployed Americans are set to expire by the end of the year.
Earlier this month, a group of Republican and Democratic senators and representatives touted a new $908 billion stimulus proposal which would provide an additional $300 in enhanced federal unemployment benefits—half of what was passed earlier in the pandemic—but no stimulus checks for individuals.
Newsweek contacted Hawley and Sanders offices for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Novel Idea for a Novel Virus? One League Proposes Private Vaccine Purchases

The novel coronavirus led to a worldwide stoppage in sports last spring through summer , including America .
Sports have ramped back up , but COVID-19 still lurks .
The National Hockey League has a couple of proposals to combat the virus as it gets ready to face off another season in January .
One idea is to play more outdoor games similar to the wildly-popular Winter Classic .
The other proposal ?
How about the league making a private purchase of the new vaccine for all of its teams , which would include players and coaches .
Canadian hockey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NHL plans to privately purchase the COVID-19 vaccine `` for all constituents involved in the potential upcoming season . ''
`` Source confirms that the NHL is planning the private purchase of a COVID vaccine for all constituents involved in the potential upcoming season , '' Shannon wrote .
Newsweek reached out to the NHL for comment .
The NHL was one of the top sports leagues to abruptly halt their seasons last spring after the coronavirus became a worldwide pandemic .
The NHL , NBA , Major League Baseball and NCAA sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the NCAA canceling all of its championships through the end of the academic year .
The NHL restarted its season with regular season and playoff games , all played in Canada , in a so-called bubble .
The NBA did the same in Orlando , Florida , and baseball played games at empty home stadiums .
Football never missed a beat last spring as the college and pro seasons had ended before the virus became widespread .
Both the NCAA and NFL kicked off their 2020 seasons this fall , but with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NHL has set a goal of January 13 , 2021 to start its new season , with the possibility of more games being played outdoors .
This includes the Boston Bruins , who released a statement that they 'd like to use Fenway Park as an outdoor venue for games .
`` We are in consistent contact with the NHL as well as officials from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Boston , and are exploring all possible venue options for the upcoming season— including Fenway Park .
At this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the Bruins stated .
The NHL 's annual Winter Classic has featured two teams playing in large , outdoor venues with a premiere game showcased on national television .
The 2020 game was played in , of all places , the Cotton Bowl stadium in Dallas .
That means if it can be held in Texas , outdoor games should n't be a problem for colder climates , especially in Canada .
The reported proposal of the NHL wanting a `` private purchase '' of a vaccine comes as the U.S. Food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the brink of approving Pfizer 's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use .

The novel coronavirus led to a worldwide stoppage in sports last spring through summer, including America. Sports have ramped back up, but COVID-19 still lurks.
The National Hockey League has a couple of proposals to combat the virus as it gets ready to face off another season in January. One idea is to play more outdoor games similar to the wildly-popular Winter Classic.
The other proposal? How about the league making a private purchase of the new vaccine for all of its teams, which would include players and coaches.
Canadian hockey broadcaster John Shannon tweeted Thursday that the NHL plans to privately purchase the COVID-19 vaccine "for all constituents involved in the potential upcoming season."
"Source confirms that the NHL is planning the private purchase of a COVID vaccine for all constituents involved in the potential upcoming season," Shannon wrote.
Source confirms that the NHL is planning the private purchase of a COVID vaccine for all constituents involved in the potential upcoming season. — John Shannon (@JShannonhl) December 10, 2020
Newsweek reached out to the NHL for comment.
The NHL was one of the top sports leagues to abruptly halt their seasons last spring after the coronavirus became a worldwide pandemic. The NHL, NBA, Major League Baseball and NCAA sports threw on the brakes in March, with the NCAA canceling all of its championships through the end of the academic year.
The NHL restarted its season with regular season and playoff games, all played in Canada, in a so-called bubble. The NBA did the same in Orlando, Florida, and baseball played games at empty home stadiums.
Football never missed a beat last spring as the college and pro seasons had ended before the virus became widespread. Both the NCAA and NFL kicked off their 2020 seasons this fall, but with limited fans, if any.
The NHL has set a goal of January 13, 2021 to start its new season, with the possibility of more games being played outdoors. This includes the Boston Bruins, who released a statement that they'd like to use Fenway Park as an outdoor venue for games.
"We are in consistent contact with the NHL as well as officials from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Boston, and are exploring all possible venue options for the upcoming season— including Fenway Park. At this point we are in the exploratory phase," the Bruins stated.
The reported proposal of the NHL wanting a “private purchase” of a vaccine comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is on the brink of approving Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
The NHL's annual Winter Classic has featured two teams playing in large, outdoor venues with a premiere game showcased on national television. The 2020 game was played in, of all places, the Cotton Bowl stadium in Dallas. That means if it can be held in Texas, outdoor games shouldn't be a problem for colder climates, especially in Canada.
The reported proposal of the NHL wanting a "private purchase" of a vaccine comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is on the brink of approving Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Hacker Pleads Guilty to Building Internet-of-Things Army for Cyberattacks

A young hacker has admitted to attempting to take down Sony 's Playstation Network gaming platform by hijacking `` internet of things '' ( IoT ) devices after reaching a plea deal with federal prosecutors .
Judge Landya B. McCafferty , chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire , accepted the hacker 's guilty plea on computer fraud and abuse charges during a closed door hearing , according to a Wednesday news release from the Department of Justice .
Because the individual was a juvenile at the time of the offense , their identity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Juvenile Delinquency Act .
Officials say that the hacker conspired with others to create a `` botnet '' by taking control of unspecified IoT devices—items that can include video cameras , recorders , devices found in `` smart homes '' like appliances or anything else with an online connection .
The botnet was used to target the Playstation network on October 21 , 2016 , with the goal of knocking it offline for an extended period of time with a DDoS , or `` distributed denial of service '' attack , which hackers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legitimate users by overwhelming a site with massive amounts of traffic sent from multiple sources .
The impact of the attack was not limited to Playstation because it focused on a domain name resolver , a computer used to process internet addresses , that was used by multiple entities .
In addition to Sony , sites owned by Twitter , Amazon , PayPal , Netflix , Tumblr and Southern New Hampshire University were also blocked or only intermittently accessible for several hours .
The attack resulted in financial damages to all those affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 2.7 million in net revenue .
In addition to the Playstation attack , officials say that the hacker and unspecified co-conspirators participated in several other attacks on computers , `` specifically targeting those belonging to online gamers or gaming platforms , '' between 2015 and November 2016 .
McCafferty is expected to issue a sentence to the guilty individual on January 7 .
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by attorneys from the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Justice Department 's Criminal Division and the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Hampshire .
Although no additional details were available , the case likely included individuals or entities from abroad since the investigation was aided by the National Crime Agency and Police Service of Northern Ireland .
Potential security issues involving IoT devices have been an ongoing concern in the U.S. and elsewhere for several years .
Last week , President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan bill , the Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act , which mandates minimum security standards for IoT devices operated or owned by the federal government .
Newsweek reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the District of New Hampshire for further information and comment .

A young hacker has admitted to attempting to take down Sony's Playstation Network gaming platform by hijacking "internet of things" (IoT) devices after reaching a plea deal with federal prosecutors.
Judge Landya B. McCafferty, chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire, accepted the hacker's guilty plea on computer fraud and abuse charges during a closed door hearing, according to a Wednesday news release from the Department of Justice. Because the individual was a juvenile at the time of the offense, their identity is being withheld in accordance with the Juvenile Delinquency Act.
Officials say that the hacker conspired with others to create a "botnet" by taking control of unspecified IoT devices—items that can include video cameras, recorders, devices found in "smart homes" like appliances or anything else with an online connection.
The botnet was used to target the Playstation network on October 21, 2016, with the goal of knocking it offline for an extended period of time with a DDoS, or "distributed denial of service" attack, which hackers often use to crash website access for legitimate users by overwhelming a site with massive amounts of traffic sent from multiple sources.
This image illustrates mobile controls for a "smart home," which can include some of the online devices that form the "internet of things." AndreyPopov/Getty
The impact of the attack was not limited to Playstation because it focused on a domain name resolver, a computer used to process internet addresses, that was used by multiple entities. In addition to Sony, sites owned by Twitter, Amazon, PayPal, Netflix, Tumblr and Southern New Hampshire University were also blocked or only intermittently accessible for several hours.
The attack resulted in financial damages to all those affected, with Sony estimating a loss of $2.7 million in net revenue. In addition to the Playstation attack, officials say that the hacker and unspecified co-conspirators participated in several other attacks on computers, "specifically targeting those belonging to online gamers or gaming platforms," between 2015 and November 2016. McCafferty is expected to issue a sentence to the guilty individual on January 7.
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by attorneys from the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Hampshire. Although no additional details were available, the case likely included individuals or entities from abroad since the investigation was aided by the National Crime Agency and Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Potential security issues involving IoT devices have been an ongoing concern in the U.S. and elsewhere for several years. Last week, President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan bill, the Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act, which mandates minimum security standards for IoT devices operated or owned by the federal government.
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Hampshire for further information and comment.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Police Tell Rebekah Jones to 'Calm Down' After Armed Officers Enter Home During Raid

Florida 's state police agency released body camera footage recorded during a raid at data scientist Rebekah Jones ' Tallahassee home on Thursday , which shows armed officers executing a search warrant earlier this week .
The footage , broken into two parts , spans roughly 30 minutes .
It sees authorities from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement ( FDLE ) and Tallahassee Police remove Jones , her husband and young children from their residence before seizing belongings potentially related to an ongoing cybercrime investigation .
When officers enter Jones ' home and order her family to exit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jones , already standing beside police outside , is clearly distressed as this happens .
A nearby officer tells her to `` calm down '' in response .
`` That was not smart , what you 're doing , '' he continues , seeming to reference her delay in approaching the door after police initially arrived .
Jones , the data scientist who previously operated Florida 's COVID-19 dashboard at the state 's Department of Health , was fired from her position last spring .
Her subsequent suggestions that the dismissal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' came after she refused to manipulate Florida 's COVID-19 data promptly made headlines .
Jones has since become a vocal advocate for authentic coverage of the virus outbreak in Florida , and operates an independent dashboard where she tracks the state 's COVID-19 cases , hospitalizations and deaths .
According to a statement issued by the FDLE alongside officers ' body camera footage , police obtained the search warrant as part of a wider inquiry into correspondence sent through a government messaging system last month .
They say the individual responsible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlawfully .
Messages that ultimately reached a large group of state government employees reportedly implored recipients to be transparent about how COVID-19 is impacting Floridians .
`` It 's time to speak up before another 17,000 people are dead , '' the message reportedly said , according to outlets who acquired copies of the affidavit .
`` You know this is wrong .
You do n't have to be part of this .
Be a hero .
Speak out before it 's too late . ''
News of the raid that took place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapidly circulated online in its aftermath , raising questions about police conduct and why Jones was implicated in the state 's investigation .
`` At 8:30 am this morning , state police came into my house and took all my hardware and tech , '' Jones wrote on Twitter Monday .
`` They were serving a warrant on my computer after DOH filed a complaint .
They pointed a gun in my face .
They pointed guns at my kids.. '' '' This is what happens to scientists who do their job honestly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet .
`` This is what happens to people who speak truth to power . ''
The data scientist shared a short video clip , taken from a personal recording device , that showed an officer pointing his gun at her staircase while instructing her family members to exit the house .
Conflicting statements from the data scientist and police left details unclear regarding officers ' use of their weapons during the raid .
Neither body camera nor home surveillance footage captured officers ' interactions with Jones ' family as they ushered them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the FDLE for additional information and comment .

Florida's state police agency released body camera footage recorded during a raid at data scientist Rebekah Jones' Tallahassee home on Thursday, which shows armed officers executing a search warrant earlier this week.
The footage, broken into two parts, spans roughly 30 minutes. It sees authorities from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Tallahassee Police remove Jones, her husband and young children from their residence before seizing belongings potentially related to an ongoing cybercrime investigation.
When officers enter Jones' home and order her family to exit, at least one has his gun drawn. Jones, already standing beside police outside, is clearly distressed as this happens. A nearby officer tells her to "calm down" in response.
"That was not smart, what you're doing," he continues, seeming to reference her delay in approaching the door after police initially arrived.
Jones, the data scientist who previously operated Florida's COVID-19 dashboard at the state's Department of Health, was fired from her position last spring. Her subsequent suggestions that the dismissal, which officials attributed to "insubordination," came after she refused to manipulate Florida's COVID-19 data promptly made headlines. Jones has since become a vocal advocate for authentic coverage of the virus outbreak in Florida, and operates an independent dashboard where she tracks the state's COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
Florida state police released body camera footage recorded during a raid at the home of Rebekah Jones, the data scientist who operated Florida's COVID-19 dashboard before her dismissal earlier this year, on Thursday. People line up at a walk-up COVID-19 testing site in Miami Beach, Florida on November 17, 2020. CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images
According to a statement issued by the FDLE alongside officers' body camera footage, police obtained the search warrant as part of a wider inquiry into correspondence sent through a government messaging system last month. An FDLE spokesperson sent a copy of the affidavit to Newsweek following the footage's release on Wednesday. It described the communications interface as "a web-based platform developed for incident and emergency planning" and noted it is used by Florida's health department.
Police say the individual responsible for correspondence sent on November 10 gained access to the system unlawfully. A text message that ultimately reached about 1,750 government employees seemingly implored them to be transparent about how COVID-19 is impacting Floridians.
"It's time to speak up before another 17,000 people are dead," the message said, according to the affidavit. "You know this is wrong. You don't have to be part of this. Be a hero. Speak out before it's too late."
News of the raid that took place at Jones' home on Monday morning rapidly circulated online in its aftermath, raising questions about police conduct and why Jones was implicated in the state's investigation.
"At 8:30 am this morning, state police came into my house and took all my hardware and tech," Jones wrote on Twitter Monday. "They were serving a warrant on my computer after DOH filed a complaint. They pointed a gun in my face. They pointed guns at my kids.."
"This is what happens to scientists who do their job honestly," she added in an additional tweet. "This is what happens to people who speak truth to power."
1/
There will be no update today.
At 8:30 am this morning, state police came into my house and took all my hardware and tech.
They were serving a warrant on my computer after DOH filed a complaint.
They pointed a gun in my face. They pointed guns at my kids.. pic.twitter.com/DE2QfOmtPU — Rebekah Jones (@GeoRebekah) December 7, 2020
The data scientist shared a short video clip, taken from a personal recording device, that showed an officer pointing his gun at her staircase while instructing her family members to exit the house. Conflicting statements from the data scientist and police left details unclear regarding officers' use of their weapons during the raid. Neither body camera nor home surveillance footage captured officers' interactions with Jones' family as they ushered them from the house.
Updated December 11, 2020,10:39 a.m. ET, to include details from the FDLE's affidavit.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Sephiroth from 'Final Fantasy VII' to Join 'Smash Ultimate' in December

Nintendo did n't keep Super Smash Bros .
Ultimate fans waiting long .
The first trailer of the 2020 Game Awards main show was the reveal of the latest DLC character for NIntendo 's premiere fighting game .
In the trailer , the Super Smash Bros .
Ultimate roster is busy fighting the big boss when it 's struck down by Sephiroth , the one-winged angel from Final Fantasy VII himself .
Nintendo confirmed in the trailer that Sephiroth will join Super Smash Bros .
Ultimate in December 2020 .
No hard release date was given , but with only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have a new fighter to play as before the new year .
Check out the trailer below .
Super Smash Bros .
Ultimate released for Nintendo Switch back in December 2019 with the largest roster of any of the game 's previous installments .
Bolstering over 60 characters , Super Smash Bros .
Ultimate has a character from every genre of game across video game history .
Gamers were re-introduced to Sephiroth when Square Enix released Final Fantasy VII Remake earlier this year .
Sephiroth is the second character from the Final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ultimate , joining Cloud .
The villain is also the third representative from Square Enix joining the aforementioned Cloud and Dragon Quest 's Hero .
After its initial release , Super Smash Bros .
Ultimate has had a number of DLC fighters added .
Piranha Plant was the first , which was offered for free to those who bought the game early .
However , more fighters would come in Fighters Pass 1 .
These fighters included : Joker from Persona 5 , Hero from the Dragon Quest series , Banjo & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fighters , and Byleth from Fire Emblem : Three Houses .
Shortly before the final DLC character was revealed , Nintendo announced Fighters Pass 2 with six more characters joining the fight .
Min Min from ARMS !
and Minecraft Steve were the first two fighters of this new pack of DLC characters , and now Sephiroth is the third .
Keep your eyes peeled for announcements from Nintendo about when the hard release date will be , and likely a special demo from series producer Masahiro Sakurai .
Players should also expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new Mii Fighter costumes to join Sephiroth when it 's released sometime in December .
Super Smash Bros .
Ultimate is available now for Nintendo Switch .
What do you think of Sephiroth joining Super Smash Bros .
Ultimate ?
Let us know in the comments section .

Nintendo didn't keep Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fans waiting long. The first trailer of the 2020 Game Awards main show was the reveal of the latest DLC character for NIntendo's premiere fighting game.
In the trailer, the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster is busy fighting the big boss when it's struck down by Sephiroth, the one-winged angel from Final Fantasy VII himself.
Nintendo confirmed in the trailer that Sephiroth will join Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in December 2020. No hard release date was given, but with only a few short weeks to go gamers will have a new fighter to play as before the new year.
Check out the trailer below.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate released for Nintendo Switch back in December 2019 with the largest roster of any of the game's previous installments. Bolstering over 60 characters, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has a character from every genre of game across video game history.
Gamers were re-introduced to Sephiroth when Square Enix released Final Fantasy VII Remake earlier this year. Sephiroth is the second character from the Final Fantasy franchise to join Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, joining Cloud.
The villain is also the third representative from Square Enix joining the aforementioned Cloud and Dragon Quest's Hero.
Sephiroth as he appears in 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' Nintendo
After its initial release, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has had a number of DLC fighters added. Piranha Plant was the first, which was offered for free to those who bought the game early.
However, more fighters would come in Fighters Pass 1. These fighters included: Joker from Persona 5, Hero from the Dragon Quest series, Banjo & Kazooie, Terry Bogard from King of Fighters, and Byleth from Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
Shortly before the final DLC character was revealed, Nintendo announced Fighters Pass 2 with six more characters joining the fight. Min Min from ARMS! and Minecraft Steve were the first two fighters of this new pack of DLC characters, and now Sephiroth is the third.
Keep your eyes peeled for announcements from Nintendo about when the hard release date will be, and likely a special demo from series producer Masahiro Sakurai.
Players should also expect a new stage, music and possible new Mii Fighter costumes to join Sephiroth when it's released sometime in December.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available now for Nintendo Switch.
What do you think of Sephiroth joining Super Smash Bros. Ultimate? Let us know in the comments section.


newsweek--2020-12-10--The Game Awards 2020—Full List of Winners

The Game Awards 2020 has begun and the celebration of video games in this year unlike any other is a bright spot for gamers and the industry .
Thursday night , the best and most innovative games of 2020 will be on display as media and fans vote for the best video games of the year .
Will Nintendo 's Animal Crossing : New Horizons take Game of the Year honors from AAA titles like Ghosts of Tsushima and The Last of Us II ?
Will Hades , arguably the top independent title of 2020 shock the world and take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues we 'll continuously update the winners for each category in The Game Awards .
The lists below are the nominees for each category with the winner in bold .
• The Last of Us Part II ( Naughty Dog/SIE ) • The Last of Us Part II ( Naughty Dog/SIE ) • The Last of Us Part II ( Neil Druckmann , Halley Gross ) - WINNER • Ori and the Will of the Wisps ( Moon Studios/Xbox Game Studios ) • The Last of Us Part II ( Naughty Dog/SIE ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisps ( Gareth Coker ) • The Last of Us Part II ( Gustavo Santaolala , Mac Quale ) • The Last of Us Part II ( Naughty Dog/SIE ) - WINNER • Ashley Johnson as Ellie , The Last of Us Part II • Laura Bailey as Abby , The Last of Us Part II - WINNER • Tell Me Why ( Dontnod Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios ) - WINNER • Through the Darkest of Times ( Paintbucket Games ) • The Last of Us Part II ( Naughty Dog/SIE ) - WINNER @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisps ( Moon Studios/Xbox Game Studios ) • The Last of Us Part II ( Naughty Dog/SIE ) - WINNER • One Punch Man : A Hero Nobody Knows ( Spike Chunsoft/Bandai-Namco ) • Crash Bandicoot 4 : It 's About Time ( Toys for Bob/Activision ) • The Legend of Zelda : Breath of the Wild Sequel • The Last of Us Part II

The Game Awards 2020 has begun and the celebration of video games in this year unlike any other is a bright spot for gamers and the industry.
Thursday night, the best and most innovative games of 2020 will be on display as media and fans vote for the best video games of the year. Will Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons take Game of the Year honors from AAA titles like Ghosts of Tsushima and The Last of Us II?
Will Hades, arguably the top independent title of 2020 shock the world and take home the honors?
As the show continues we'll continuously update the winners for each category in The Game Awards. The lists below are the nominees for each category with the winner in bold.
The Game Awards
Game of the Year
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo)
DOOM Eternal (id Software/Bethesda)
Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix)
Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch/SIE)
Hades (Supergiant Games)
The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog/SIE) - WINNER
Best Game Direction
Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix)
Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch/SIE)
Hades (Supergiant Games)
Half-Life: Alyx (Valve)
The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog/SIE) - WINNER
Best Narrative
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (George Kamitani)
Final Fantasy VII Remake (Kazushige Nojima, Motomu Toriyama, Hiroki Iwaki, Sachie Hirano)
Ghost of Tsushima (Ian Ryan, Liz Albl, Patrick Downs, Jordan Lemos)
Hades (Greg Kasavin)
The Last of Us Part II (Neil Druckmann, Halley Gross) - WINNER
Best Art Direction
Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix)
Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch/SIE) - WINNER
Hades (Supergiant Games)
Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Moon Studios/Xbox Game Studios)
The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog/SIE)
Best Score and Music
DOOM Eternal (Mick Gordon)
Final Fantasy VII Remake (Nobuo Uematsu, Masahi Hamauzu, Mitsuto Suzuki) - WINNER
Hades (Darren Korb)
Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Gareth Coker)
The Last of Us Part II (Gustavo Santaolala, Mac Quale)
Best Audio Design
DOOM Eternal (id Software/Bethesda)
Half-Life: Alyx (Valve)
Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch/SIE)
Resident Evil 3 (Capcom)
The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog/SIE) - WINNER
Best Performance
Ashley Johnson as Ellie, The Last of Us Part II
Laura Bailey as Abby, The Last of Us Part II - WINNER
Daisuke Tsuji as Jin Sakai, Ghost of Tsushima
Logan Cunningham as Hades, Hades
Nadji Jeter as Miles Morales, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Games for Impact
If Found... (DREAMFEEL/Annapurna Interactive)
Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition (Cardboard Computer/Annapurna Interactive)
Spiritfarer (Thunder Lotus Games)
Tell Me Why (Dontnod Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios) - WINNER
Through the Darkest of Times (Paintbucket Games)
Best Ongoing
Apex Legends (Respawn/EA)
Destiny 2 (Bungie)
Call of Duty: Warzone (Infinity Ward/Activision)
Fortnite (Epic Games)
No Man's Sky (Hello Games) - WINNER
Best Indie
Carrion (Phobia Game Studio)
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (Mediatonic/Devolver)
Hades (Supergiant Games) - WINNER
Spelunky 2 (Mossmouth)
Spiritfarer (Thunder Lotus Games)
Best Mobile
Among Us (InnerSloth) - WINNER
Call of Duty: Mobile (TiMi Studios/Activision)
Genshin Impact (miHoYo)
Legends of Runeterra (Riot Games)
Pokémon Café Mix (Genius Sonority)
Best Community Support
Apex Legends (Respawn/EA)
Destiny 2 (Bungie)
Fall Guys (Mediatonic/Devolver) - WINNER
Fortnite (Epic Games)
No Man's Sky (Hello Games)
Valorant (Riot Games)
Innovation in Accessibility
Assassin's Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)
Grounded (Obsidian/Xbox Game Studios)
HyperDot (Tribe Games)
The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog/SIE) - WINNER
Watch Dogs: Legion (Ubisoft Toronto/Ubisoft)
Best VR/AR
Dreams (Media Molecule/SIE)
Half-Life: Alyx (Valve) - WINNER
MARVEL's Iron Man VR (Camoflaj/SIE)
STAR WARS: Squadrons (Motive Studios/EA)
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (Skydance Interactive)
Best Action
DOOM Eternal (id Software/Bethesda)
Hades (Supergiant Games) - WINNER
Half-Life: Alyx (Valve)
Nioh 2 (Team Ninja)
Streets of Rage 4 (DotEmu)
Best Action/Adventure
Assassin's Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)
Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch/SIE)
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Insomniac Games/SIE)
Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Moon Studios/Xbox Game Studios)
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Respawn/EA)
The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog/SIE) - WINNER
Best Role Playing
Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix) - WINNER
Genshin Impact (miHoYo)
Persona 5 Royal (Atlus, P Studios)
Wasteland 3 (inXile Entertainment/Koch)
Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega)
Best Fighting
Granblue Fantasy: Versus (Arc System Works/Cygames)
Mortal Kombat 11/Ultimate (NetherRealm Studios/WB Games) - WINNER
Street Fighter V: Champion Edition (Dimps/Capcom)
One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows (Spike Chunsoft/Bandai-Namco)
UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH Exe: Late[cl-r] (French Bread/Arc System Works)
Best Family
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo) - WINNER
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time (Toys for Bob/Activision)
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (Mediatonic/Devolver)
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (Velan Studios/Nintendo)
Minecraft Dungeons (Mojang/Double Eleven/Xbox Game Studios)
Paper Mario: The Origami King (Intelligent Systems/Nintendo)
Best Sim/Strategy
Crusader Kings III (Paradox Development Studio/Paradox)
Desperados III (Mimimi Games/THQN)
Gears Tactics (Splash Damage/The Coalition/Xbox Game Studios)
Microsoft Flight Simulator (Asobo/Xbox Game Studios) - WINNER
XCOM: Chimera Squad (Firaxis/2K)
Best Sports/Racing
Dirt 5 (Codemasters Cheshire/Codemasters)
F1 2020 (Codemasters Birmingham /Codemasters)
FIFA 21 (EA Vancouver/EA Sports)
NBA 2K21 (Visual Concepts/2K)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 (Vicarious Visions/Activision) - WINNER
Best Multiplayer
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo)
Among Us (InnerSloth) - WINNER
Call of Duty: Warzone (Infinity Ward/Raven/Activision)
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (Mediatonic/Devolver)
Valorant (Riot Games)
Best Debut Game
Carrion (Phobia Game Studio/Devolver)
Mortal Shell (Cold Symmetry/Playstack)
Raji: An Ancient Epic (Nodding Heads Games)
Röki (Polygon Treehouse/CI Games)
Phasmophobia (Kinetic Games) - WINNER
Content Creator of the Year
Alanah Pearce
NickMercs
TimtheTatman
Jay Ann Lopez
Valkyrae - WINNER
Best Esports Game
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (Infinity Ward/Raven/Activision)
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Valve)
Fortnite (Epic Games)
League of Legends (Riot Games) - WINNER
Valorant (Riot Games)
Best Esports Athlete
Ian "Crimsix" Porter / Call of Duty
Heo "Showmaker" Su / League of Legends - WINNER
Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu / League of Legends
Anthony "Shotzzy" Cuevas-Castro / Call of Duty
Matthieu "ZywOo" Herbaut / CS:GO
Best Esports Team
DAMWON Gaming / League of Legends
Dallas Empire / Call of Duty
San Francisco Shock / Overwatch League
G2 Esports / League of Legends - WINNER
Team Secret / DOTA2
Best Esports Event
BLAST Premier: Spring E2020 European Finals (CS:GO)
Call of Duty League Championship 2020
IEM Katowice 2020 (CS:GO)
League of Legends World Championship 2020 - WINNER
Overwatch League Grand Finals 2020
Best Esports Host
Eefje "Sjokz" Depoortere - WINNER
Alex "Machine" Richardson
Alex "Goldenboy" Mendez
James "Dash" Patterson
Jorien "Sheever" van der Heijden
Best Esports Coach
Crusty
Grabbz
Rambo
Zefa
Zonic - WINNER
Most Anticipated Game
Elden Ring - WINNER
God of War Sequel
Halo Infinite
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sequel
Resident Evil: Village
Horizon Forbidden West
Player's Voice


newsweek--2020-12-10--FDA Advisory Committee Votes For Emergency Authorization of COVID Vaccine, Still Needs Approval

A committee that advises the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) on vaccines has recommended that the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine be given an Emergency Use Authorization ( EUA ) that would allow it to be used in the U.S. immediately .
The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee ( VRBPAC ) voted for emergency use by 17-4 , with one abstention , during a meeting on Thursday .
The five votes that were not in favor of approval may have occurred because the recommended approval includes anyone aged 16 or older , with some debate having focused on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be included due to limited data , although most of the panel agreed that the benefits of including them outweighed the risks .
The FDA directed Newsweek to tweet from Commissioner Stephen Hahn when asked for comment .
`` Thank you to the scientific and public health experts who participated in the FDA 's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting today to discuss a request for Emergency Use Authorization for a vaccine to prevent # COVID19 , '' tweeted Hahn .
The FDA still has to approve the recommendation for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are likely to do so .
It is possible that the EUA could be modified by the FDA to apply to only those 18 and older , or to address one of a small number other concerns raised by the panel .
If the vaccine is approved , a limited number of doses will likely be available to a group that includes front-line health care workers within days .
`` Today 's recommendation by FDA 's Advisory Committee that an Emergency Use Authorization be issued for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' President-elect Joe Biden said in a statement .
`` We are grateful to the scientists and researchers who developed this vaccine .
And , we are grateful to the scientists and public health experts who evaluated the safety and efficacy of this vaccine free from political influence . ''
`` The integrity of science led us to this point , '' added Biden `` Vaccines do n't equal vaccinations .
Our challenge now is to scale up manufacturing and distribution to distribute 100 million shots in the first 100 days of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the advisory committee included safety during pregnancy and among patients with a history of significant allergic reactions .
In the U.K. , where the vaccine was approved last week and started being administered on Tuesday , two health care workers who received it experienced severe allergic reactions , leading to a recommendation against giving it to those with a history of significant allergies .
The committee is also expected to meet next week to discuss a possible EUA for Moderna 's coronavirus vaccine , which performed similarly to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of over 90 percent and no life-threatening safety concerns .
Update 12/10 , 7:26 p.m. : This article has been updated to amend a portion of a statement from President-elect Joe Biden , who issued a corrected version of the original statement .
Biden initially said the FDA had approved the vaccine , which was inaccurate .

A committee that advises the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on vaccines has recommended that the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine be given an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) that would allow it to be used in the U.S. immediately.
The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted for emergency use by 17-4, with one abstention, during a meeting on Thursday. The five votes that were not in favor of approval may have occurred because the recommended approval includes anyone aged 16 or older, with some debate having focused on whether those aged 16 or 17 should be included due to limited data, although most of the panel agreed that the benefits of including them outweighed the risks.
The FDA directed Newsweek to tweet from Commissioner Stephen Hahn when asked for comment.
"Thank you to the scientific and public health experts who participated in the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting today to discuss a request for Emergency Use Authorization for a vaccine to prevent #COVID19," tweeted Hahn.
The FDA still has to approve the recommendation for the EUA to go into effect, although they are likely to do so. It is possible that the EUA could be modified by the FDA to apply to only those 18 and older, or to address one of a small number other concerns raised by the panel. If the vaccine is approved, a limited number of doses will likely be available to a group that includes front-line health care workers within days.
A patient receives a dose of Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine in Cardiff, Wales on December 8, 2020. Matthew Horwood/Getty
"Today's recommendation by FDA's Advisory Committee that an Emergency Use Authorization be issued for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a bright light in a needlessly dark time," President-elect Joe Biden said in a statement. "We are grateful to the scientists and researchers who developed this vaccine. And, we are grateful to the scientists and public health experts who evaluated the safety and efficacy of this vaccine free from political influence."
"The integrity of science led us to this point," added Biden "Vaccines don't equal vaccinations. Our challenge now is to scale up manufacturing and distribution to distribute 100 million shots in the first 100 days of my administration."
Other issues debated by the advisory committee included safety during pregnancy and among patients with a history of significant allergic reactions. In the U.K., where the vaccine was approved last week and started being administered on Tuesday, two health care workers who received it experienced severe allergic reactions, leading to a recommendation against giving it to those with a history of significant allergies.
The committee is also expected to meet next week to discuss a possible EUA for Moderna's coronavirus vaccine, which performed similarly to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in clinical trials, with an efficacy rate of over 90 percent and no life-threatening safety concerns.
Update 12/10, 7:26 p.m.: This article has been updated to amend a portion of a statement from President-elect Joe Biden, who issued a corrected version of the original statement. Biden initially said the FDA had approved the vaccine, which was inaccurate.


newsweek--2020-12-10--Rand Paul Is Blocking Passage of Defense Funding Bill, GOP Senator Says

Republican Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney claimed on Thursday that Kentucky GOP Senator Rand Paul was holding up the passage of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA ) , which details the yearly budget for the Department of Defense .
Paul has voiced objections to an amendment in the NDAA which seeks to prevent U.S. troops from withdrawing from Afghanistan without Congressional approval .
President Donald Trump announced in October that troops would be leaving Afghanistan and be back in the U.S. before the Christmas holiday .
Trump has threatened to veto the 2021 NDAA if it crosses his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amendment that calls for the renaming of military bases that were named after leaders in the Confederate Army .
In a floor speech Thursday , Paul said that those in favor of passing the NDAA quickly were in favor of `` war and substantiating war and making sure that it becomes and is perpetual war . ''
`` The hawks and neocons somehow want you to believe , in contrast to all logic , that the President of the United States has the unitary power to go to war anytime he wants , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Paul said .
`` Yet today in the NDAA , they say they now want a president that can not leave a war without their permission . ''
Paul added that the NDAA creates a `` very dangerous precedent '' for limiting a president 's power to end wars that should be `` vigorously opposed . ''
Cheney called Paul 's opposition to the NDAA `` inexcusable '' in a Thursday tweet .
`` .
@ RandPaul is currently holding up passage of the # NDAA , blaming America , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of our service members and their families , '' Cheney tweeted .
`` Inexcusable . ''
`` Rand and I do have one thing in common , though , '' Cheney added .
`` We 're both 5 ' 2 '' tall . ''
Newsweek reached out to Paul 's office for comment .
Included in the 2021 NDAA is a 3 percent pay raise for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and an increase in certain hazardous duty incentive pay from $ 250 to $ 275 per month .
On Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NDAA with a veto-proof majority .
In July , Trump threatened to veto the NDAA if language calling for the renaming of some military installations was included in the final iteration .
Trump has also said that the NDAA should include the repeal of Section 230 , which provides protection to social media platforms against content posted by third parties that could be deemed controversial .
In a November interview with WDRB , Paul said Trump should withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan `` except for the Marine detachment guarding the embassy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ end , '' Paul added , `` and all those people saying it should go on and on—they are in the minority . ''

Republican Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney claimed on Thursday that Kentucky GOP Senator Rand Paul was holding up the passage of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which details the yearly budget for the Department of Defense.
Paul has voiced objections to an amendment in the NDAA which seeks to prevent U.S. troops from withdrawing from Afghanistan without Congressional approval. President Donald Trump announced in October that troops would be leaving Afghanistan and be back in the U.S. before the Christmas holiday. Trump has threatened to veto the 2021 NDAA if it crosses his desk over other issues, including an amendment that calls for the renaming of military bases that were named after leaders in the Confederate Army.
In a floor speech Thursday, Paul said that those in favor of passing the NDAA quickly were in favor of "war and substantiating war and making sure that it becomes and is perpetual war."
"The hawks and neocons somehow want you to believe, in contrast to all logic, that the President of the United States has the unitary power to go to war anytime he wants, anywhere, free from interference from Congress," Paul said. "Yet today in the NDAA, they say they now want a president that cannot leave a war without their permission."
Paul added that the NDAA creates a "very dangerous precedent" for limiting a president's power to end wars that should be "vigorously opposed."
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul said Thursday that the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act set a "very dangerous precedent." Greg Nash-Pool/Getty
Cheney called Paul's opposition to the NDAA "inexcusable" in a Thursday tweet.
".@RandPaul is currently holding up passage of the #NDAA, blaming America, and delaying hazardous duty pay to hundreds of thousands of our service members and their families," Cheney tweeted. "Inexcusable."
"Rand and I do have one thing in common, though," Cheney added. "We're both 5'2" tall."
Newsweek reached out to Paul's office for comment.
Included in the 2021 NDAA is a 3 percent pay raise for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and an increase in certain hazardous duty incentive pay from $250 to $275 per month. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed the NDAA with a veto-proof majority.
In July, Trump threatened to veto the NDAA if language calling for the renaming of some military installations was included in the final iteration. Trump has also said that the NDAA should include the repeal of Section 230, which provides protection to social media platforms against content posted by third parties that could be deemed controversial.
In a November interview with WDRB, Paul said Trump should withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan "except for the Marine detachment guarding the embassy."
"But the war needs to end," Paul added, "and all those people saying it should go on and on—they are in the minority."


newsweek--2020-12-10--GOP AL Rep. Mo Brooks Wants to Force Republican Vote on Trump's Election Overturn Effort

Republican Alabama Representative Mo Brooks has pledged to use the Electoral Count Act of 1877 to challenge the electoral vote when Congress meets to approve the vote on January 6 .
If Brooks finds a Republican senator willing to join him , the law would require all GOP Congress members to go on the record in stating whether they support President Donald Trump 's effort to overturn the 2020 election .
`` In my judgment , if only lawful votes by eligible American citizens were cast , Donald Trump won the Electoral College by a significant margin , and Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brooks said in a phone interview reported by Politico .
`` This election was stolen by the socialists engaging in extraordinary voter fraud and election theft measures . ''
While Republicans and Trump 's re-election team have been unable to prove claims of widespread election fraud , with 51 of 52 such cases being dismissed or withdrawn from court due to lack of evidence , Brooks ' challenge would be a last-ditch effort to at least symbolically protest the election of President-elect Joe Biden while also pledging loyalty to Trump and avoiding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Count Act would require the Senate and the House to each hold a two-hour debate before voting on whether to approve electoral vote counts of states with disputed outcomes , according to political analyst Ed Kilgore .
Presumably , these would be blue states , including the four recently named in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton 's recent Supreme Court filing seeking invalidate election results in Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .
The vote would force Republican colleagues to definitively state whether they support Trump and Republican efforts to invalidate millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second term even though Biden won by over 7 million votes and 74 electoral votes .
It 's unclear if Congress members could abstain from voting or simply vote themselves as present , and it 's unlikely that such a vote would actually overturn the election 's result as it would require majorities in both congressional chambers to succeed , something the Democrat-led House would n't do .
Nevertheless , the vote could serve as an attempt by congressional Republicans to avoid being targeted or voted out by Trump supporters in upcoming elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Georgia , where Biden won by 11,779 votes , have faced death threats after Trump and others accused them of being complicit with Democrats in certifying Biden 's victory there .
Other Trump supporters have promised to withdraw their support from and end their political careers of any Republicans who do n't try to challenge Biden from being inaugurated on January 20 .

Republican Alabama Representative Mo Brooks has pledged to use the Electoral Count Act of 1877 to challenge the electoral vote when Congress meets to approve the vote on January 6. If Brooks finds a Republican senator willing to join him, the law would require all GOP Congress members to go on the record in stating whether they support President Donald Trump's effort to overturn the 2020 election.
"In my judgment, if only lawful votes by eligible American citizens were cast, Donald Trump won the Electoral College by a significant margin, and Congress' certification should reflect that," Brooks said in a phone interview reported by Politico. "This election was stolen by the socialists engaging in extraordinary voter fraud and election theft measures."
While Republicans and Trump's re-election team have been unable to prove claims of widespread election fraud, with 51 of 52 such cases being dismissed or withdrawn from court due to lack of evidence, Brooks' challenge would be a last-ditch effort to at least symbolically protest the election of President-elect Joe Biden while also pledging loyalty to Trump and avoiding the wrath of his supporters.
Republican Alabama Representative Mo Brooks' plan to use an 1877 law to challenge the electoral vote in congress would force his Republican colleagues to go on the record of stating whether or not they support President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the results of the presidential election. In this December 08, 2020 photo, Trump signs an executive at the Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Summit on in Washington, DC. Tasos Katopodis/Getty
The Electoral Count Act would require the Senate and the House to each hold a two-hour debate before voting on whether to approve electoral vote counts of states with disputed outcomes, according to political analyst Ed Kilgore. Presumably, these would be blue states, including the four recently named in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's recent Supreme Court filing seeking invalidate election results in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The vote would force Republican colleagues to definitively state whether they support Trump and Republican efforts to invalidate millions of popular votes to give Trump a second term even though Biden won by over 7 million votes and 74 electoral votes.
It's unclear if Congress members could abstain from voting or simply vote themselves as present, and it's unlikely that such a vote would actually overturn the election's result as it would require majorities in both congressional chambers to succeed, something the Democrat-led House wouldn't do.
Nevertheless, the vote could serve as an attempt by congressional Republicans to avoid being targeted or voted out by Trump supporters in upcoming elections.
Republican election and top government officials in Georgia, where Biden won by 11,779 votes, have faced death threats after Trump and others accused them of being complicit with Democrats in certifying Biden's victory there. Other Trump supporters have promised to withdraw their support from and end their political careers of any Republicans who don't try to challenge Biden from being inaugurated on January 20.


newsweek--2020-12-10--ESPN, While Laying Off Hundreds, Inks Mammoth Contract With SEC Football

Just one month after ESPN announced it will lay off hundreds of workers because of financial difficulties , the TV sports network boasted a huge contract to land one college football conference 's game of the week .
Disney , which owns ESPN , stated Thursday night that it will become home to the Southeastern Conference 's ( SEC ) football game of the week , with a 10-year contract beginning in 2024 .
The SEC game of the week and SEC championship game will move from CBS to ABC .
Also next year , ESPN has the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men 's basketball games to ESPN+ .
The CBS contract with the SEC was worth about $ 55 million per season .
The new contract with Disney will be worth more than $ 300 million per year .
CBS has held the rights to the SEC game of the week since the two entities agreed to a contract in 1996 .
The SEC has since become the premiere conference in all of college football , with the national champion coming from the SEC 11 of the last 17 years .
There has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game every year since 2006 , with the exception of 2014 ( Ohio State vs. Oregon ) .
Twice there has been a championship game ( 2011 LSU vs Alabama , 2018 Georgia vs Alabama ) with two SEC teams playing each other .
Under the current contract , CBS gets the SEC game of the week in the 3:30 p.m .
ET slot every week during the regular season , and it gets one prime time game every year .
After CBS selects its game of the week , ESPN then schedules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the remainder of games are shown on the ESPN-owned SEC Network .
It 's uncertain of the CBS college football music , which is widely popular and recognizable , is part of the deal .
All of this is happening while ESPN is laying off 300 more workers and not filling 200 positions , as announced last month .
The massive layoffs are a product of a two-pronged process .
The first was widespread cord-cutting by viewers , meaning less people were opting for sports packages and networks in their plans .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with traditional cable and satellite companies in lieu of select online streaming services .
ESPN had nearly 100 million subscribers in 2013 , and that has dipped to about 83 million subscribers now .
Secondly , the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancelation of hundreds of live , televised sporting events , most by ESPN , which caused a dramatic drop in revenue .
The network , in April , began asking some of its higher-paid commentators and executives to take pay cuts to accommodate a modified budget .
Then , layoffs eventually began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our business clearly accelerated those forward-looking discussions , '' ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said , according to the Washington Post .
`` In the short term , we enacted various steps like executive and talent salary reductions , furloughs and budget cuts , and we implemented innovative operations and production approaches , all in an effort to weather the covid storm . ''
ESPN has laid off about 5,000 employees since 2015 , when the Disney-owned network began layoffs by the hundreds .
The layoffs have hit all across the spectrum of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to on-air personalities to those working the cameras and other behind-the-scenes functions .
ESPN is not the only company to get hit hard by layoffs .
Fox Sports and NBC Sports also had furloughs because of the lack of live sports during the pandemic .

Just one month after ESPN announced it will lay off hundreds of workers because of financial difficulties, the TV sports network boasted a huge contract to land one college football conference's game of the week.
Disney, which owns ESPN, stated Thursday night that it will become home to the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) football game of the week, with a 10-year contract beginning in 2024.
The SEC game of the week and SEC championship game will move from CBS to ABC. Also next year, ESPN has the right to move a limited number of football and men's basketball games to ESPN+.
The CBS contract with the SEC was worth about $55 million per season. The new contract with Disney will be worth more than $300 million per year.
Game changer. SEC's No. 1 game goes from CBS to ABC in 2024. SEC has long felt that its contract with CBS was undervalued at about $55 million per year. This contract will be north of $300 million per year. https://t.co/IpklPmG9XR — Tony Barnhart (@MrCFB) December 10, 2020
CBS has held the rights to the SEC game of the week since the two entities agreed to a contract in 1996. The SEC has since become the premiere conference in all of college football, with the national champion coming from the SEC 11 of the last 17 years. There has been an SEC team in the national championship game every year since 2006, with the exception of 2014 (Ohio State vs. Oregon).
Twice there has been a championship game (2011 LSU vs Alabama, 2018 Georgia vs Alabama) with two SEC teams playing each other.
Under the current contract, CBS gets the SEC game of the week in the 3:30 p.m. ET slot every week during the regular season, and it gets one prime time game every year. After CBS selects its game of the week, ESPN then schedules the next few favorable games, and the remainder of games are shown on the ESPN-owned SEC Network.
It's uncertain of the CBS college football music, which is widely popular and recognizable, is part of the deal.
A detailed view of the SEC logo during a game between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
All of this is happening while ESPN is laying off 300 more workers and not filling 200 positions, as announced last month. The massive layoffs are a product of a two-pronged process.
The first was widespread cord-cutting by viewers, meaning less people were opting for sports packages and networks in their plans. It could also mean people are doing away with traditional cable and satellite companies in lieu of select online streaming services. ESPN had nearly 100 million subscribers in 2013, and that has dipped to about 83 million subscribers now.
Secondly, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancelation of hundreds of live, televised sporting events, most by ESPN, which caused a dramatic drop in revenue.
The network, in April, began asking some of its higher-paid commentators and executives to take pay cuts to accommodate a modified budget. Then, layoffs eventually began.
"The pandemic's significant impact on our business clearly accelerated those forward-looking discussions," ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said, according to the Washington Post. "In the short term, we enacted various steps like executive and talent salary reductions, furloughs and budget cuts, and we implemented innovative operations and production approaches, all in an effort to weather the covid storm."
ESPN has laid off about 5,000 employees since 2015, when the Disney-owned network began layoffs by the hundreds. The layoffs have hit all across the spectrum of the worldwide sports leader, from journalists to on-air personalities to those working the cameras and other behind-the-scenes functions.
ESPN is not the only company to get hit hard by layoffs. Fox Sports and NBC Sports also had furloughs because of the lack of live sports during the pandemic.