newsweek--2020-12-28--Trump Vowed 100M COVID Vaccine Doses by End of 2020—Only 2.1M Have Been Administered

President Donald Trump promised to have 100 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine prepared by the end of 2020 , but only 2.1 million doses have been administered thus far .
Production delays may have severely undercut the actual number of manufactured doses to about half of Trump 's pledged amount .
`` We will have manufactured at least 100 million vaccine doses before the end of the year , and likely much more than that , '' Trump said in a September 16 press briefing .
As of December 28 , just over 2.1 million people in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) .
The number of doses manufactured thus far is unclear , but likely below 100 million .
In a Monday statement , the federal government said it had delivered over 11.4 million doses to states and territories .
In a Sunday Fox News interview , Dr. Moncef Slaoui , chief adviser to Operation Warp Speed ( OWS ) —the U.S. government 's program to quickly develop and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine and other coronavirus treatments—said he hoped to have 40 million doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Slaoui also said he expected for 100 million U.S. residents to be immunized by the end of the first quarter of 2021 .
But he did n't specify the exact number of COVID-19 doses currently manufactured and available in the United States .
As of December 28 , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has authorized two COVID-19 vaccines for use : the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine .
Throughout September , Pfizer planned to have 100 million doses manufactured by the end of the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down its prediction to 50 million , citing limited access to the raw materials needed to produce the doses , according to Time magazine .
At a Health and Human Services ( HHS ) briefing on December 21 , OWS ' Chief Operating Officer General Gustave Perna said that Moderna had distributed 5.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine across the country so far .
By the end of the year , he said 20 million total doses will have been delivered , but he did n't say how many doses Moderna had already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , NPR said that employees of Catalent , a manufacturing facility producing millions of doses of the Moderna vaccine , had been found in a September FDA inspection to not be following rules to prevent microbial contamination , something which could delay vaccine production .
A Catalent spokesperson told the media outlet that the FDA 's finding was `` a repeat finding of the earlier observation , and relates to a different concern for a process in a different part of the facility . ''
In a Monday afternoon tweet , Washington Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of prepared doses .
Kessler wrote , `` Trump in his campaign rallies repeatedly promised a 100 million vaccine doses by end of 2020 .
Three days left for 98 million doses . ''

President Donald Trump promised to have 100 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine prepared by the end of 2020, but only 2.1 million doses have been administered thus far. Production delays may have severely undercut the actual number of manufactured doses to about half of Trump's pledged amount.
"We will have manufactured at least 100 million vaccine doses before the end of the year, and likely much more than that," Trump said in a September 16 press briefing.
As of December 28, just over 2.1 million people in the U.S. had received a COVID-19 vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The number of doses manufactured thus far is unclear, but likely below 100 million.
Despite campaign pledges by President Donald Trump that the US would have more than 100 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year, so far only 2.1 million have reportedly been administered. In this December 17, 2020 photo, syringes wand vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine are prepared to be administered to front-line health care workers under an emergency use authorization in Reno, Nevada. Patrick T. Fallon / AFP/Getty
In a Monday statement, the federal government said it had delivered over 11.4 million doses to states and territories.
In a Sunday Fox News interview, Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief adviser to Operation Warp Speed (OWS)—the U.S. government's program to quickly develop and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine and other coronavirus treatments—said he hoped to have 40 million doses distributed by the end of the year.
Slaoui also said he expected for 100 million U.S. residents to be immunized by the end of the first quarter of 2021. But he didn't specify the exact number of COVID-19 doses currently manufactured and available in the United States.
As of December 28, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized two COVID-19 vaccines for use: the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.
Throughout September, Pfizer planned to have 100 million doses manufactured by the end of the year. By November, the company scaled down its prediction to 50 million, citing limited access to the raw materials needed to produce the doses, according to Time magazine.
At a Health and Human Services (HHS) briefing on December 21, OWS' Chief Operating Officer General Gustave Perna said that Moderna had distributed 5.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine across the country so far. By the end of the year, he said 20 million total doses will have been delivered, but he didn't say how many doses Moderna had already manufactured.
In a December 17 report, NPR said that employees of Catalent, a manufacturing facility producing millions of doses of the Moderna vaccine, had been found in a September FDA inspection to not be following rules to prevent microbial contamination, something which could delay vaccine production.
A Catalent spokesperson told the media outlet that the FDA's finding was "a repeat finding of the earlier observation, and relates to a different concern for a process in a different part of the facility."
In a Monday afternoon tweet, Washington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler criticized Trump for the lack of prepared doses. Kessler wrote, "Trump in his campaign rallies repeatedly promised a 100 million vaccine doses by end of 2020. Three days left for 98 million doses."
Trump in his campaign rallies repeatedly promised a 100 million vaccine doses by end of 2020. Three days left for 98 million doses. https://t.co/EnVHslR0sn — Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) December 28, 2020
Newsweek contacted the HHS for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-28--Iran Denies Role in US Embassy in Iraq Attack, Says Trump Acting Out of 'Fear'

Iran has denied U.S. allegations that it played any role in recent attacks targeting Washington 's embassy in Baghdad , accusing President Donald Trump of instilling further instability in Iraq with increased military movements at a crucial time for all three nations .
While rocket strikes near U.S. facilities in the Iraqi capital have become a somewhat regular occurrence over the past year and a half of heightened tensions between U.S. troops and Iraqi militias supportive of Iran , the latest barrage last week drew an ominous warning from the president himself , who claimed there was `` chatter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' '' Some friendly health advice to Iran : If one American is killed , I will hold Iran responsible , '' Trump tweeted Wednesday alongside a picture of three unexploded rockets allegedly found near the attack site .
`` Think it over . ''
Reacting to the remarks and others like it by U.S. officials such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said that Tehran `` completely rejects attacks on residential and diplomatic facilities . ''
He called the U.S. comments `` suspicious and mischievous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put in place after the Trump administration quit the multinational nuclear deal in 2018 , and , more recently , military pressure by U.S. warships and bombers sent to the region over the past month .
Khatibzadeh then issued a warning of his own .
`` Everyone knows what the Persian Gulf means to the Islamic Republic of Iran , '' he said , `` and knows what a high risk it is to cross Iran 's red lines . ''
`` The # USMilitary 's increased mobility in the region is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past evils that increase the entropy of insecurity & lead to harmful misunderstandings , '' the senior Iranian official tweeted .
`` Security in the region can only be achieved through the removal of foreign anti-instability forces . ''
Both Washington and Tehran are closely monitoring one another movement 's ahead of what is anticipated to be a tense anniversary of a string of events in late 2019 and early 2020 that represented a milestone in the already tormented ties between the two four-decade foes .
The killing of a U.S. contractor in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blamed on the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia led to retaliatory strikes that killed dozens of the group 's members .
An angry crowd supportive of the paramilitary collective and other contingents of Iraq 's state-sponsored Popular Mobilization Forces laid siege to the U.S. embassy throughout New Year 's Day 2020 in an act U.S. officials also blamed on Iran .
Two days later , a U.S. strike at Baghdad International Airport killed Iran 's Revolutionary Guard Quds Force commander Major General Qassem Soleimani , along with Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces deputy chief Abu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation was met with an Iranian missile attack days later against U.S. positions at an Iraqi base , and Iraqi lawmakers voted to expel all foreign forces , including those of the U.S .
While the U.S. has transferred a number of Iraqi positions to local troops , and the Trump administration announced last month a drawdown to 3,000 U.S. personnel , no plans for a comprehensive withdrawal have been established .
U.S. Central Command issued its own statement Wednesday in response to the latest embassy attacks , which the command said `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rogue Militia Group . ''
`` These groups are Iranian-backed because Iran provides both material support and direction .
They are rogue because they are actually acting on behalf of Iranian interests and direction in a direct betrayal of Iraqi sovereignty , '' the statement , attributed to spokesperson Navy Captain Bill Urban , said .
`` It is important for the people of Iraq to understand that past attacks by the Iranian-backed Rogue Militia Groups have killed more Iraqi civilians and members of the Iraqi Security Forces than they have killed Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. `` will hold Iran accountable for the deaths of any Americans that result from the work of these Iranian-backed Rogue Militia Groups . ''
The White House has also escalated its `` maximum pressure '' campaign against Iran in the final weeks before Trump 's rival , President-elect Joe Biden , is sworn in on Jan. 20 .
Biden is expected to initiate negotiations to reenter the nuclear agreement with Iran alongside other major world powers , including Russia , and to lift a number of the unilateral sanctions against the Islamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has promised to reinstate some of its own enrichment-related commitments to the accord as soon as the U.S. lives up to its obligations .
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif emphasized diplomacy as an Iranian asset in a discussion held Sunday with Tehran 's Center for Political and International Studies .
Should the U.S. pursue war , however , Zarif warned in an earlier tweet published Thursday that it would be met with an even stronger and deadlier response than that of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 , an operation launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of weapons of mass destruction that were never proven to exist .
`` Last time , the US ruined our region over WMD fabrications , wasting $ 7 TRILLION & causing 58,976 American casualties , '' Zarif tweeted .
`` FAR WORSE this time .
Trump will bear full responsibility for any adventurism on his way out . ''
He also criticized Trump 's `` useless '' rocket photo and shared two images depicting former President George W. Bush 's infamous `` Mission Accomplished '' photo taken just weeks after the U.S. invaded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of Trump hand-in-hand with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .
Israel is also widely seen as playing a role in recent tensions involving Iran , having been blamed by Iranian officials for the assassination of nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh last month in an eastern suburb of Tehran .
Israel media reported last Monday that , in a rare move , an Israeli submarine crossed Egypt 's Suez Canal that ties the Mediterranean to the Red Sea , which feeds off into the greater Indian Ocean , the current operation position for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday , the U.S. Navy shared images of Ohio-class submarine USS Georgia and accompanying cruisers crossing the Strait of Hormuz , a strategic waterway in which roughly a third of the world 's maritime oil passes just off Iran 's shores .
The U.S. has used Persian Gulf waters to launch operations during previous conflicts in Iraq , where tensions today are testing the resolve among rival arms of the state .
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi quickly denounced last week 's rocket attacks , which he blamed on `` outlaws '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if necessary . ''
Iraqi security forces were said to have arrested a number of suspects allegedly planning another attack , and among those apprehended by authorities was a member of Popular Mobilization Forces group Asaib Ahl al-Haq , which—like Kataib Hezbollah and Iran 's Revolutionary Guard—are considered by the U.S. to be a terrorist organization .
The group 's supporters staged a motorcade protest in Baghdad on Friday demanding the militiaman 's release , but he is believed to remain in government custody .
The following day , senior Kataib Hezbollah official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kadhimi that `` the possibility of an all-out war exists , '' and that Iraq 's self-styled `` resistance '' factions would band together to defend the country against adversaries that neither Iranian intelligence , the CIA nor others would be able to protect .
On Sunday , Saudi news outlets Al Arabiya and Al Hadath reported that Iraq 's Higher Judiciary Council had issued an arrest warrant for Askari .
An accompanying document appeared to back the claim .
The same judiciary council said Monday it had reached an `` advanced stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death alongside Soleimani nearly one year ago .
Relevant evidence mentioned in the announcement included clips of Trump claiming responsibility for the attack , and the court noted that `` the coming days will witness the issuance of appropriate judicial decisions against the accused and those involved in the assassination incident . ''

Iran has denied U.S. allegations that it played any role in recent attacks targeting Washington's embassy in Baghdad, accusing President Donald Trump of instilling further instability in Iraq with increased military movements at a crucial time for all three nations.
While rocket strikes near U.S. facilities in the Iraqi capital have become a somewhat regular occurrence over the past year and a half of heightened tensions between U.S. troops and Iraqi militias supportive of Iran, the latest barrage last week drew an ominous warning from the president himself, who claimed there was "chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq,"
"Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible," Trump tweeted Wednesday alongside a picture of three unexploded rockets allegedly found near the attack site. "Think it over."
Reacting to the remarks and others like it by U.S. officials such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said that Tehran "completely rejects attacks on residential and diplomatic facilities." He called the U.S. comments "suspicious and mischievous."
Iran has faced intensive sanctions put in place after the Trump administration quit the multinational nuclear deal in 2018, and, more recently, military pressure by U.S. warships and bombers sent to the region over the past month.
Khatibzadeh then issued a warning of his own.
"Everyone knows what the Persian Gulf means to the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said, "and knows what a high risk it is to cross Iran's red lines."
Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, also delivered a message.
"The #USMilitary's increased mobility in the region is a show of defiance & fear because of past evils that increase the entropy of insecurity & lead to harmful misunderstandings," the senior Iranian official tweeted. "Security in the region can only be achieved through the removal of foreign anti-instability forces."
An image shared by U.S. Central Command purports to show damage inflicted by a December 20 rocket attack on the U.S. embassy building in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad's Green Zone. U.S. Central Command
Both Washington and Tehran are closely monitoring one another movement's ahead of what is anticipated to be a tense anniversary of a string of events in late 2019 and early 2020 that represented a milestone in the already tormented ties between the two four-decade foes.
The killing of a U.S. contractor in December 2019 in an unclaimed rocket strike blamed on the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia led to retaliatory strikes that killed dozens of the group's members. An angry crowd supportive of the paramilitary collective and other contingents of Iraq's state-sponsored Popular Mobilization Forces laid siege to the U.S. embassy throughout New Year's Day 2020 in an act U.S. officials also blamed on Iran.
Two days later, a U.S. strike at Baghdad International Airport killed Iran's Revolutionary Guard Quds Force commander Major General Qassem Soleimani, along with Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and several others.
The operation was met with an Iranian missile attack days later against U.S. positions at an Iraqi base, and Iraqi lawmakers voted to expel all foreign forces, including those of the U.S.
While the U.S. has transferred a number of Iraqi positions to local troops, and the Trump administration announced last month a drawdown to 3,000 U.S. personnel, no plans for a comprehensive withdrawal have been established.
U.S. Central Command issued its own statement Wednesday in response to the latest embassy attacks, which the command said "was almost certainly conducted by an Iranian-backed Rogue Militia Group."
"These groups are Iranian-backed because Iran provides both material support and direction. They are rogue because they are actually acting on behalf of Iranian interests and direction in a direct betrayal of Iraqi sovereignty," the statement, attributed to spokesperson Navy Captain Bill Urban, said. "It is important for the people of Iraq to understand that past attacks by the Iranian-backed Rogue Militia Groups have killed more Iraqi civilians and members of the Iraqi Security Forces than they have killed Americans."
He warned Iran that the U.S. "will hold Iran accountable for the deaths of any Americans that result from the work of these Iranian-backed Rogue Militia Groups."
The White House has also escalated its "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran in the final weeks before Trump's rival, President-elect Joe Biden, is sworn in on Jan. 20. Biden is expected to initiate negotiations to reenter the nuclear agreement with Iran alongside other major world powers, including Russia, and to lift a number of the unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic imposed by President Trump.
Iran has promised to reinstate some of its own enrichment-related commitments to the accord as soon as the U.S. lives up to its obligations. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif emphasized diplomacy as an Iranian asset in a discussion held Sunday with Tehran's Center for Political and International Studies.
Should the U.S. pursue war, however, Zarif warned in an earlier tweet published Thursday that it would be met with an even stronger and deadlier response than that of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, an operation launched on the pretext of preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction that were never proven to exist.
"Last time, the US ruined our region over WMD fabrications, wasting $7 TRILLION & causing 58,976 American casualties," Zarif tweeted. "FAR WORSE this time. Trump will bear full responsibility for any adventurism on his way out."
He also criticized Trump's "useless" rocket photo and shared two images depicting former President George W. Bush's infamous "Mission Accomplished" photo taken just weeks after the U.S. invaded Iraq 17 years ago, along with one of Trump hand-in-hand with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel is also widely seen as playing a role in recent tensions involving Iran, having been blamed by Iranian officials for the assassination of nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh last month in an eastern suburb of Tehran.
Iraqi men stand beneath a billboard depicting late Iranian Quds Force commander Major General Qassem Soleimani (L) and leading Iraqi paramilitary figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, on a street in the southern city of Basra, on December 28, days before the one-year anniversary of their killing in a U.S. strike in the Iraqi capital in January of this year. HUSSEIN FALEH/AFP/Getty Images
Israel media reported last Monday that, in a rare move, an Israeli submarine crossed Egypt's Suez Canal that ties the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, which feeds off into the greater Indian Ocean, the current operation position for the USS Nimitz carrier strike group.
Also on Monday, the U.S. Navy shared images of Ohio-class submarine USS Georgia and accompanying cruisers crossing the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway in which roughly a third of the world's maritime oil passes just off Iran's shores.
The U.S. has used Persian Gulf waters to launch operations during previous conflicts in Iraq, where tensions today are testing the resolve among rival arms of the state.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi quickly denounced last week's rocket attacks, which he blamed on "outlaws" against whom he vowed "decisive confrontation if necessary."
Iraqi security forces were said to have arrested a number of suspects allegedly planning another attack, and among those apprehended by authorities was a member of Popular Mobilization Forces group Asaib Ahl al-Haq, which—like Kataib Hezbollah and Iran's Revolutionary Guard—are considered by the U.S. to be a terrorist organization.
The group's supporters staged a motorcade protest in Baghdad on Friday demanding the militiaman's release, but he is believed to remain in government custody.
The following day, senior Kataib Hezbollah official Abu Ali al-Askari issued a statement warning Kadhimi that "the possibility of an all-out war exists," and that Iraq's self-styled "resistance" factions would band together to defend the country against adversaries that neither Iranian intelligence, the CIA nor others would be able to protect.
On Sunday, Saudi news outlets Al Arabiya and Al Hadath reported that Iraq's Higher Judiciary Council had issued an arrest warrant for Askari. An accompanying document appeared to back the claim.
The same judiciary council said Monday it had reached an "advanced stage" in the investigation into Muhandis' death alongside Soleimani nearly one year ago. Relevant evidence mentioned in the announcement included clips of Trump claiming responsibility for the attack,and the court noted that "the coming days will witness the issuance of appropriate judicial decisions against the accused and those involved in the assassination incident."


newsweek--2020-12-28--Rubio Joins Progressives in Pressuring GOP Senators for $2,000 Stimulus Checks

Republican Senator Marco Rubio said in a Monday statement that he was in favor of increasing stimulus checks from $ 600 to $ 2,000 , echoing an opinion shared by many Democrats .
President Donald Trump signed economic relief legislation on Sunday that allowed for the provision of $ 600 direct payments to every eligible American .
However , he criticized the amount as being too small and urged lawmakers to increase the amount to $ 2,000 .
Most Democrats agreed with Trump that the amount should be raised .
A standalone bill introduced by Democrats to provide the increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Republicans on Thursday .
Rubio said on Monday that he would support the legislation , which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday with a vote of 275 to 134 .
`` Congress should quickly pass legislation to increase direct payments to Americans to $ 2,000 , '' Rubio said .
`` I agree with the President that millions of working class families are in dire need of additional relief , which is why I support $ 2,000 in direct payments to Americans struggling due to the pandemic , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans tried to pass additional relief for workers , families , and small businesses—only to be rejected by Democrats at every turn . ''
Progressives , including Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders , have supported the larger checks and pointed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as the individual preventing the payment package from being signed into law .
`` This week on the Senate floor Mitch McConnell wants to vote to override Trump 's veto of the $ 740 billion defense funding bill and then head home for the New Year , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm going to object until we get a vote on legislation to provide a $ 2,000 direct payment to the working class , '' Sanders continued .
Newsweek reached out to McConnell 's office for comment .
New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also took aim at Republicans for voting against the larger checks .
`` Notice how Republican Congressmen who like to claim they are the party of 'personal responsibility ' refuse to take any responsibility themselves for blocking retroactive unemployment benefits , voting against $ 2k survival checks , stoking doubt about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Monday .
In a Sunday statement , McConnell praised Trump 's signing of the package , which both Republicans and Democrats had worked on for weeks .
`` The compromise bill is not perfect , '' McConnell said , `` but it will do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians and Americans across the country who need help now . ''
Democrats attempted to push a standalone bill that would have provided the $ 2,000 checks to Americans on Thursday , but that attempt failed after House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approve the legislation .
When the legislation will be voted on by the U.S. Senate is unclear , although Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated Monday he would `` move to pass the bill '' through the Senate on Tuesday .
`` Senate Republicans should not stand in the way , '' Schumer said .

Republican Senator Marco Rubio said in a Monday statement that he was in favor of increasing stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000, echoing an opinion shared by many Democrats.
President Donald Trump signed economic relief legislation on Sunday that allowed for the provision of $600 direct payments to every eligible American. However, he criticized the amount as being too small and urged lawmakers to increase the amount to $2,000. Most Democrats agreed with Trump that the amount should be raised. A standalone bill introduced by Democrats to provide the increased amount of direct assistance was blocked by House Republicans on Thursday. Rubio said on Monday that he would support the legislation, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday with a vote of 275 to 134.
"Congress should quickly pass legislation to increase direct payments to Americans to $2,000," Rubio said.
"I agree with the President that millions of working class families are in dire need of additional relief, which is why I support $2,000 in direct payments to Americans struggling due to the pandemic," Rubio continued. "For months, Republicans tried to pass additional relief for workers, families, and small businesses—only to be rejected by Democrats at every turn."
Progressives, including Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, have supported the larger checks and pointed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as the individual preventing the payment package from being signed into law.
Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio expressed his support for higher direct assistance payments for Americans on Monday. Tasos Katopodis/Getty
"This week on the Senate floor Mitch McConnell wants to vote to override Trump's veto of the $740 billion defense funding bill and then head home for the New Year," Sanders tweeted on Monday.
"I'm going to object until we get a vote on legislation to provide a $2,000 direct payment to the working class," Sanders continued.
Newsweek reached out to McConnell's office for comment.
New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also took aim at Republicans for voting against the larger checks. "Notice how Republican Congressmen who like to claim they are the party of 'personal responsibility' refuse to take any responsibility themselves for blocking retroactive unemployment benefits, voting against $2k survival checks, stoking doubt about the pandemic to begin with, etc," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Monday.
Notice how Republican Congressmen who like to claim they are the party of “personal responsibility” refuse to take any responsibility themselves for blocking retroactive unemployment benefits, voting against $2k survival checks, stoking doubt about the pandemic to begin with, etc — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 28, 2020
In a Sunday statement, McConnell praised Trump's signing of the package, which both Republicans and Democrats had worked on for weeks. "The compromise bill is not perfect," McConnell said, "but it will do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians and Americans across the country who need help now."
Democrats attempted to push a standalone bill that would have provided the $2,000 checks to Americans on Thursday, but that attempt failed after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy chose not to approve the legislation. When the legislation will be voted on by the U.S. Senate is unclear, although Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated Monday he would "move to pass the bill" through the Senate on Tuesday.
"Senate Republicans should not stand in the way," Schumer said.


newsweek--2020-12-28--AOC Rails Against Democrat for Opposing $2,000 Stimulus Checks

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) has spoken out against a fellow Democrat who broke with the party in opposing an amendment to increase COVID-19 relief payments to $ 2,000 , which passed in the House on Monday .
Ocasio-Cortez offered a list of remarks while responding to a tweet from Bloomberg reporter Erik Wasson , who quoted Rep. Kurt Schrader ( D-Ore. ) saying that `` people who are making six figure incomes and who have not been impact by Covid-19 do not need checks '' during debate over the bill from the House floor .
`` 1st of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 75k , '' Ocasio-Cortez tweeted , correctly noting that the legislation does not offer checks for individuals who are making `` six figure incomes '' as Schrader claimed .
`` 2. it 's already tied to outdated income info , do n't make it worse , '' she added .
`` 3 .
Ppl who made $ 100k+ also had income disrupted ... 4 .
Is this really a good reason to block aid for millions ... .
5 .
If you 're going to err , err on the side of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the Blue Dog Coalition , a caucus of moderate Democrats in the House who espouse `` fiscal responsibility , '' along with a host of other centrist policies .
The politics of Ocasio-Cortez , one of the chamber 's most prominent progressives , fall considerably to the left of Schrader .
The Democratic-controlled House passed the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help ( CASH ) Act to amend the previously passed $ 600 relief checks , increasing them to $ 2,000 , on Monday .
The move came after President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initial bill , which he later signed , be increased by the same amount .
Despite Trump 's insistence , it is not clear that the Republican-controlled Senate will vote to approve the amendment .
A majority of House Democrats were joined by 44 Republicans who also voted in favor of the CASH Act , while Schrader was one of only two Democrats who opposed the measure .
Schrader railed against the bill during debate before the vote , calling it a `` political maneuver '' by Trump and `` extremist '' Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at lawmakers who `` tweet their opinions . ''
`` This is an ineffective and poorly targeted approach to aiding Americans in distress , '' Schrader said .
`` It is clearly a last-minute political maneuver by the president and extremists on both sides of the political spectrum , who have been largely absent during months of very hard negotiations . ''
`` They have chosen to tweet their opinions instead of coming to the table to get aid in the hands of Americans and small businesses that need it most , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine months to fix this program to get it to people who need it most . ''
Newsweek reached out to Schrader 's office for comment .

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has spoken out against a fellow Democrat who broke with the party in opposing an amendment to increase COVID-19 relief payments to $2,000, which passed in the House on Monday.
Ocasio-Cortez offered a list of remarks while responding to a tweet from Bloomberg reporter Erik Wasson, who quoted Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) saying that "people who are making six figure incomes and who have not been impact by Covid-19 do not need checks" during debate over the bill from the House floor.
"1st of all, aid starts phasing out at $75k," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, correctly noting that the legislation does not offer checks for individuals who are making "six figure incomes" as Schrader claimed.
"2. it's already tied to outdated income info, don't make it worse," she added. "3. Ppl who made $100k+ also had income disrupted ... 4. Is this really a good reason to block aid for millions .... 5. If you're going to err, err on the side of helping people."
1st of all, aid starts phasing out at $75k
2. it’s already tied to outdated income info, don’t make it worse
3. Ppl who made $100k+ also had income disrupted
4. Is this really a good reason to block aid for millions
5. If you’re going to err, err on the side of helping people https://t.co/tBSuR99WLN — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 28, 2020
Schrader is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of moderate Democrats in the House who espouse "fiscal responsibility," along with a host of other centrist policies. The politics of Ocasio-Cortez, one of the chamber's most prominent progressives, fall considerably to the left of Schrader.
The Democratic-controlled House passed the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help (CASH) Act to amend the previously passed $600 relief checks, increasing them to $2,000, on Monday. The move came after President Donald Trump demanded that the amount in the initial bill, which he later signed, be increased by the same amount. Despite Trump's insistence, it is not clear that the Republican-controlled Senate will vote to approve the amendment.
A majority of House Democrats were joined by 44 Republicans who also voted in favor of the CASH Act, while Schrader was one of only two Democrats who opposed the measure. Schrader railed against the bill during debate before the vote, calling it a "political maneuver" by Trump and "extremist" Republicans and Democrats, while also taking aim at lawmakers who "tweet their opinions."
"This is an ineffective and poorly targeted approach to aiding Americans in distress," Schrader said. "It is clearly a last-minute political maneuver by the president and extremists on both sides of the political spectrum, who have been largely absent during months of very hard negotiations."
"They have chosen to tweet their opinions instead of coming to the table to get aid in the hands of Americans and small businesses that need it most," he added. "We've had nine months to fix this program to get it to people who need it most."
Newsweek reached out to Schrader's office for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-28--GOP State Leader Catches COVID After Attending White House Party Maskless With 200 Guests

A Massachusetts Republican party leader who contracted COVID-19 and spread it to his family has reportedly traced back the infections to a largely maskless holiday party held at the White House on December 9 .
Tom Mountain , the vice chairman of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee , was hospitalized with the virus only a few days after being one of around 200 people to attend a Hanukkah party at the White House , according to multiple local media reports .
`` Well , lets put it this way , when I went down to Washington , D.C. for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perfectly fine , and three days later after that event , I was in the hospital at Brigham and Women 's ready to be put on a lifesaving ventilator , '' Mountain told WHDH on Monday .
Some party attendees wore masks while entering the White House , but Mountain said that they `` would just leisurely and gingerly take off their mask to mingle , to schmooze '' once inside , adding that he `` was guilty as anyone else . ''
Mountain was hospitalized for a second time about one week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being put on a ventilator both times but has continued to experience symptoms despite no longer requiring hospitalization .
In addition , his wife , son , mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have also tested positive following his diagnosis .
`` I did n't listen to the warnings of my own family , and now I 'm paying the price , '' he told The Boston Globe on Saturday .
`` No one can ever say for sure exactly where they got it , but I 'll say this : Before the party , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I have to admit I was n't the most careful about wearing the face masks , '' added Mountain , `` but now I 'm zealous about it .
I have no doubt about their necessity . ''
The largely mask-free party Mountain attended was the first of two Hanukkah events held at the White House on the same night , at a time when COVID-19 was surging out of control .
Deaths caused by the virus surpassed 3,000 on December 9 , breaking the record for a second consecutive day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of multiple outbreaks of the virus , with dozens of infections among staff and prominent Trump administration officials .
President Donald Trump , who has rarely worn a mask himself , contracted the virus along with first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron Trump in early October .
COVID-19 hit single-day highs of 3,682 new deaths on December 16 , and just under 250,000 new cases on December 18 , according to Johns Hopkins University .
As of Monday , there had been over 19.1 million total confirmed cases of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associated deaths .
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment .

A Massachusetts Republican party leader who contracted COVID-19 and spread it to his family has reportedly traced back the infections to a largely maskless holiday party held at the White House on December 9.
Tom Mountain, the vice chairman of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee, was hospitalized with the virus only a few days after being one of around 200 people to attend a Hanukkah party at the White House, according to multiple local media reports.
"Well, lets put it this way, when I went down to Washington, D.C. for the White House Hanukkah event, I was perfectly fine, and three days later after that event, I was in the hospital at Brigham and Women's ready to be put on a lifesaving ventilator," Mountain told WHDH on Monday.
Some party attendees wore masks while entering the White House, but Mountain said that they "would just leisurely and gingerly take off their mask to mingle, to schmooze" once inside, adding that he "was guilty as anyone else."
Following the advice of public health experts by wearing face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic has become a contentious, and sometimes partisan, issue during 2020. YK TANG/Getty
Mountain was hospitalized for a second time about one week later. He said he narrowly avoided being put on a ventilator both times but has continued to experience symptoms despite no longer requiring hospitalization. In addition, his wife, son, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have also tested positive following his diagnosis.
"I didn't listen to the warnings of my own family, and now I'm paying the price," he told The Boston Globe on Saturday. "No one can ever say for sure exactly where they got it, but I'll say this: Before the party, I was in perfectly good health."
"I have to admit I wasn't the most careful about wearing the face masks," added Mountain, "but now I'm zealous about it. I have no doubt about their necessity."
The largely mask-free party Mountain attended was the first of two Hanukkah events held at the White House on the same night, at a time when COVID-19 was surging out of control. Deaths caused by the virus surpassed 3,000 on December 9, breaking the record for a second consecutive day.
The White House has been the scene of multiple outbreaks of the virus, with dozens of infections among staff and prominent Trump administration officials. President Donald Trump, who has rarely worn a mask himself, contracted the virus along with first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron Trump in early October.
COVID-19 hit single-day highs of 3,682 new deaths on December 16, and just under 250,000 new cases on December 18, according to Johns Hopkins University. As of Monday, there had been over 19.1 million total confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S. and more than 333,000 associated deaths.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-28--GOP Lawmaker Slams 'Erratic' Trump for 'Focusing on Grievances than Finishing Strong'

Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois has called President Donald Trump 's behavior near the end of his term `` erratic , '' adding , `` I think he 's more focused on grievances than finishing out strong . ''
In a Monday interview on the MSNBC show Andrea Mitchell Reports , Mitchell asked Kinzinger about comments he made Sunday on CNN calling Trump 's reasons for vetoing the National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA ) `` nonsensical . ''
Kinzinger has publicly criticized the president for refusing to sign the latest COVID-19 stimulus bill until the last minute .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to overturn the election a `` scam . ''
Kinzinger told Mitchell that Trump had made the final weeks of his presidency difficult for congressional Republicans .
`` It 's definitely been erratic at the end here , '' he said of the president 's behavior .
`` I think he 's more focused on grievances than finishing out strong . ''
`` The NDAA veto of that makes no sense , but hopefully , we override that , '' Kinzinger continued .
Last Wednesday , Trump vetoed the bill , partly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act , a law shielding social media companies from liability for posts shared by users .
Trump has long championed repealing the law and said the failure to repeal it `` facilitates the spread of foreign disinformation online . ''
However , free speech experts have said that repealing Section 230 would compel social media companies to massively censor all online speech under the threat of lawsuits .
`` Section 230 , if you have a real issue with Section 230 , that 's fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the place to deal with it .
That 's through the Energy and Commerce Committee and others , '' Kinzinger told Mitchell .
`` We have 20-some days left , we have to do what 's right . ''
Congress is expected to override the president 's veto as it had already passed the NDAA with a veto-proof majority .
Trump signed the latest COVID-19 stimulus bill on Monday morning after days of casting doubt on whether or not he would .
In a video message last Tuesday , Trump described the stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushed for $ 2,000 checks for each American adult .
Democrats later criticized the president , stating that they too had wanted $ 2,000 checks for all adults , only to have the proposal negotiated down by congressional Republicans .
In the past , Kinzinger has called Trump and Republican fundraising efforts to change the election 's results a `` grifting scam . ''
`` It is a scam , '' he said .
`` It is going to disappoint the people that believe this election was stolen , that think this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trump campaign has repeatedly solicited supporters for donations to Trump 's `` Official Election Defense Fund '' for mounting legal challenges seeking to overturn the vote in several key swing states that voted for President-elect Joe Biden .
However , legal language in Trump 's solicitations specifies that any donations under $ 8,000 will benefit the Republican National Committee or `` Save America , '' a Trump leadership PAC ( political action committee ) , and not legal attempts to dispute the election , according to Reuters .
`` Instead of being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this grifting scam , '' Kinzinger said , `` they will somehow , you know , try to convince these people that it was the RINOs ( Republicans In Name Only ) in Congress , or something like that , and not the Constitution that prevents this from happening in the first place . ''
Newsweek reached out to Kinzinger for further comment .

Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois has called President Donald Trump's behavior near the end of his term "erratic," adding, "I think he's more focused on grievances than finishing out strong."
In a Monday interview on the MSNBC show Andrea Mitchell Reports, Mitchell asked Kinzinger about comments he made Sunday on CNN calling Trump's reasons for vetoing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) "nonsensical."
Kinzinger has publicly criticized the president for refusing to sign the latest COVID-19 stimulus bill until the last minute. The lawmaker also called Trump and Republican efforts to overturn the election a "scam."
Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger said of President Donald Trump in a Monday interview, “It’s definitely been erratic at the end here. I think he’s more focused on grievances than finishing out strong.” In this October 22, 2014 picture, Kinzinger attends the 2014 Global Leadership Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on in New York City. Mike Pont / FilmMagic/Getty
Kinzinger told Mitchell that Trump had made the final weeks of his presidency difficult for congressional Republicans. "It's definitely been erratic at the end here," he said of the president's behavior. "I think he's more focused on grievances than finishing out strong."
"The NDAA veto of that makes no sense, but hopefully, we override that," Kinzinger continued.
Last Wednesday, Trump vetoed the bill, partly because it didn't include a repeal of Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, a law shielding social media companies from liability for posts shared by users.
Trump has long championed repealing the law and said the failure to repeal it "facilitates the spread of foreign disinformation online." However, free speech experts have said that repealing Section 230 would compel social media companies to massively censor all online speech under the threat of lawsuits.
"Section 230, if you have a real issue with Section 230, that's fine, but the defense bill isn't the place to deal with it. That's through the Energy and Commerce Committee and others," Kinzinger told Mitchell. "We have 20-some days left, we have to do what's right."
Congress is expected to override the president's veto as it had already passed the NDAA with a veto-proof majority.
Trump signed the latest COVID-19 stimulus bill on Monday morning after days of casting doubt on whether or not he would. In a video message last Tuesday, Trump described the stimulus package as a "disgrace" and pushed for $2,000 checks for each American adult. Democrats later criticized the president, stating that they too had wanted $2,000 checks for all adults, only to have the proposal negotiated down by congressional Republicans.
In the past, Kinzinger has called Trump and Republican fundraising efforts to change the election's results a "grifting scam."
"It is a scam," he said. "It is going to disappoint the people that believe this election was stolen, that think this is an opportunity to change it."
The Trump campaign has repeatedly solicited supporters for donations to Trump's "Official Election Defense Fund" for mounting legal challenges seeking to overturn the vote in several key swing states that voted for President-elect Joe Biden.
However, legal language in Trump's solicitations specifies that any donations under $8,000 will benefit the Republican National Committee or "Save America," a Trump leadership PAC (political action committee), and not legal attempts to dispute the election, according to Reuters.
"Instead of being disappointed in the people that led them on this grifting scam," Kinzinger said, "they will somehow, you know, try to convince these people that it was the RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) in Congress, or something like that, and not the Constitution that prevents this from happening in the first place."
Newsweek reached out to Kinzinger for further comment.


newsweek--2020-12-28--House Passes $2,000 Stimulus Checks After Trump Signs Relief Bill, Fate Uncertain in Senate

The Democratic-led House narrowly approved $ 2,000 direct payments on Monday for tens of millions of Americans , forcing Republican lawmakers to go on the record about whether they support or oppose President Donald Trump 's demand for greater stimulus checks .
However , the provision 's fate in the upper chamber remains a question mark .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) has not offered assurances he will consider the additional relief , despite the president 's position .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) will move to unanimously approve the legislation on Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could block .
The vote of 275-134 , which mustered the required two-thirds majority by just three votes , came one day after Trump signed into law a $ 900 billion stimulus package following days of delay , nearly resulting in a government shutdown due to the $ 1.4 trillion in federal spending that was paired with the measure .
Though most House Republicans opposed increasing the $ 600 checks included in the relief bill to $ 2,000 , 44 GOP lawmakers ultimately supported the provision .
House Republicans last week blocked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unanimous consent , prompting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) to hold a tallied vote .
`` Every Republican vote against this bill is a vote to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny the American people the relief they need , '' Pelosi contended in a statement issued Sunday night , following Trump signing the stimulus .
Trump 's dayslong refusal to sign the legislation as he flirted with vetoing the bipartisan package occurred while spending his Christmas vacation at his South Florida Mar-a-Lago resort and his nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his temporary opposition had achieved nothing .
Democrats were already on board after having pushed for $ 1,200 payments during negotiations but slashed them in half at Republican 's and Trump 's request .
And back home , the commander in chief had plunged the nation 's capital into panic mode , as lawmakers debated how to avert a government shutdown and millions of Americans across the country saw their unemployment benefits lapse .
Last week , after Congress overwhelmingly approved the stimulus-budget package , Trump abruptly insisted that $ 2,000 checks be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in foreign aid be stripped .
This despite his own administration officials being involved in the monthslong stimulus talks and his own White House budget proposal including the foreign money .
Had the president not signed the bill by Monday at midnight , a government shutdown would have ensued .
And because of the delay , millions of people will see their federal jobless benefits in the package reduced from 11 to 10 weeks , as aid expired Saturday .
The quagmire caused by Trump temporarily thrusted the recipients of the relief bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Capitol Hill grappled over how to handle their party leader .
McConnell has not promised a vote on the $ 2,000 payments , much less the support needed among his GOP members to pass the provision .
Congressional Republicans and their aides had hoped Trump would drop his demands and just approve the bill .
In a statement Sunday night , McConnell lauded Trump for signing the pandemic aid into law but made no mention of the upper chamber 's plans .
`` [ Trump 's ] leadership has prevented a government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not have afforded one , '' the Kentucky Republican said .

The Democratic-led House narrowly approved $2,000 direct payments on Monday for tens of millions of Americans, forcing Republican lawmakers to go on the record about whether they support or oppose President Donald Trump's demand for greater stimulus checks.
However, the provision's fate in the upper chamber remains a question mark. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has not offered assurances he will consider the additional relief, despite the president's position.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will move to force a vote on the legislation Tuesday, a move that any one GOP senator could block.
The vote of 275-134, which mustered the required two-thirds majority by just three votes, came one day after Trump signed into law a $900 billion stimulus package following days of delay, nearly resulting in a government shutdown due to the $1.4 trillion in federal spending that was paired with the measure.
Though most House Republicans opposed increasing the $600 checks included in the relief bill to $2,000, 44 GOP lawmakers ultimately supported the provision. House Republicans last week blocked the same stimulus check measure from passing via unanimous consent, prompting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to hold a tallied vote.
"Every Republican vote against this bill is a vote to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny the American people the relief they need," Pelosi contended in a statement issued Sunday night, following Trump signing the stimulus.
The US Capitol in the late afternoon before lawmakers passed a $900 billion coronavirus relief bill on December 21 in Washington, DC. Photo by Cheriss May/Getty
Trump's dayslong refusal to sign the legislation as he flirted with vetoing the bipartisan package occurred while spending his Christmas vacation at his South Florida Mar-a-Lago resort and his nearby golf club.
It appeared as though his temporary opposition had achieved nothing.
Democrats were already on board after having pushed for $1,200 payments during negotiations but slashed them in half at Republican's and Trump's request. And back home, the commander in chief had plunged the nation's capital into panic mode, as lawmakers debated how to avert a government shutdown and millions of Americans across the country saw their unemployment benefits lapse.
Last week, after Congress overwhelmingly approved the stimulus-budget package, Trump abruptly insisted that $2,000 checks be added and hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid be stripped. This despite his own administration officials being involved in the monthslong stimulus talks and his own White House budget proposal including the foreign money.
Had the president not signed the bill by Monday at midnight, a government shutdown would have ensued. And because of the delay, millions of people will see their federal jobless benefits in the package reduced from 11 to 10 weeks, as aid expired Saturday.
The quagmire caused by Trump temporarily thrusted the recipients of the relief bill into a state of uncertainty as Republicans on Capitol Hill grappled over how to handle their party leader. McConnell has not promised a vote on the $2,000 payments, much less the support needed among his GOP members to pass the provision. Congressional Republicans and their aides had hoped Trump would drop his demands and just approve the bill.
In a statement Sunday night, McConnell lauded Trump for signing the pandemic aid into law but made no mention of the upper chamber's plans.
"[Trump's] leadership has prevented a government shutdown at a time when our nation could not have afforded one," the Kentucky Republican said.


newsweek--2020-12-28--Pixar's 'Soul' Gives Shoutouts to Prince, Johnny Cash, Gandhi, Stephen Hawking and More

What do Martin Luther King , Jr. , Marie Curie and Queen Elizabeth have in common ?
While this sounds like the set-up for a bad joke , it 's actually that their names are among the many featured in a particularly striking scene in Pixar 's new feature Soul , which debuted on Christmas Day on Disney+ .
The collection of names is seen about a third of the way into Soul , when Tina Fey 's character , simply named 22 , shows Joe Gardner ( Jamie Foxx ) the names of some of the mentors who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spark her creativity .
( If you 've seen Soul , then you know what we 're talking about ; if you have n't seen Soul yet , what 's your excuse ?
It 's a new Pixar film and it 's available to everyone who has a Disney+ subscription ! )
And that scene is precisely when names of artists ( Vincent Van Gogh ) , scientists ( Albert Einstein ) and musicians ( Aretha Franklin ) appear on name tags that crowd a message board .
( Country music fans will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... Johnny Cash '' tag , as this was Cash 's standard greeting when he took the stage . )
It 's a cute moment that serves to demonstrate to Joe just how impossible it will be for him to help 22 find a spark for herself .
One name in particular has drawn a particularly large amount of attention on Twitter and Reddit—that of Prince Rogers Nelson .
Obviously , Prince was much better known by just his first name .
Below is a screen grab of Soul 's message board posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with additional highlighting placed around his name tag .
The funky pop star , who died tragically in 2016 , is in good company .
Newsweek tried to compile a list of all the historical figures included on the board .
( Just bear with us , because there are some names we could n't read or translate from their original language . )
We spotted name tags for : Nellie Bly , Copernicus , Vincent Van Gogh , Marvin Gaye , Leonardo da Vinci , George Orwell , Joe Grant , Eleanor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Harvey Milk , Marie Černá , Archimedes , Maya Tsosie , Stephen Hawking , Herman Jakobs , Nelson Mandela , Johannes Gutenberg , Confucius , Jan Kowalski , Abraham Lincoln , Catherine the Great , Joan of Arc , Thomas Edison , Amelia Earhart , Ts'ai Lun , Marie Antoinette , Mahatma Gandhi , Johnny Cash , Harriet Tubman , Grace O'Malley , Anna Kowalczyk , Pawet Jankowski , Queen Elizabeth , Balogh Tamás , Marie Curie , Aretha Franklin , Petar Jankovic , Prince Rogers Nelson , Muhammad Ali , Albert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Martin Luther King Jr. , Pablo Picasso , William Taylor , John Wilson , Emine Demir , Mary Johnson , Mike Oznowicz and Joe Ranft .
If those last two names on the list do n't jump out at you , Joe Ranft wrote the original Toy Story before dying in a car accident in 2005 at age 45 .
Isidore `` Mike '' Oznowicz was a legendary puppeteer and the father of Frank Oz , who is also a puppeteer and of course the voice of many Muppets characters , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made a habit of planting Easter eggs like these name tags in all of their films , including such easy-to-miss references as the lamp from Pixar 's logo being used in a statue WALL-E made of EVE , and the bully Sid from Toy Story making a cameo in Toy Story 3 as a garbage collector , among many , many other instances .
Soul also has its fair share of Easter eggs .
Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed the appearance of `` 2319 '' on the side of a New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human sock was found on a monster in Monsters , Inc. And the ubiquitous Pizza Planet truck also turns up in the new film .
The truck first appeared , of course , in Toy Story , when the characters actually went to the Pizza Planet restaurant .
That iconic delivery truck has appeared in every Pixar film since , even in the Medieval setting of Brave .
In Soul , a Pizza Planet truck can be spotted in The Hall of Everything .
You 'll may also find Axiom from WALL-E , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same scene .
But the best Easter eggs require the most hunting , and Soul will likely have fans combing every frame of the movie in the coming weeks .

What do Martin Luther King, Jr., Marie Curie and Queen Elizabeth have in common? While this sounds like the set-up for a bad joke, it's actually that their names are among the many featured in a particularly striking scene in Pixar's new feature Soul, which debuted on Christmas Day on Disney+.
Jamie Foxx voices the lead character of Pixar's latest feature, 'Soul.' Disney/Pixar
The collection of names is seen about a third of the way into Soul, when Tina Fey's character, simply named 22, shows Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) the names of some of the mentors who have failed over the decades and centuries to spark her creativity. (If you've seen Soul, then you know what we're talking about; if you haven't seen Soul yet, what's your excuse? It's a new Pixar film and it's available to everyone who has a Disney+ subscription!)
And that scene is precisely when names of artists (Vincent Van Gogh), scientists (Albert Einstein) and musicians (Aretha Franklin) appear on name tags that crowd a message board. (Country music fans will appreciate the "Hello My Name Is...Johnny Cash" tag, as this was Cash's standard greeting when he took the stage.) It's a cute moment that serves to demonstrate to Joe just how impossible it will be for him to help 22 find a spark for herself.
One name in particular has drawn a particularly large amount of attention on Twitter and Reddit—that of Prince Rogers Nelson. Obviously, Prince was much better known by just his first name. Below is a screen grab of Soul's message board posted on a Prince Twitter fan account, with additional highlighting placed around his name tag.
The funky pop star, who died tragically in 2016, is in good company. Newsweek tried to compile a list of all the historical figures included on the board. (Just bear with us, because there are some names we couldn't read or translate from their original language.)
We spotted name tags for: Nellie Bly, Copernicus, Vincent Van Gogh, Marvin Gaye, Leonardo da Vinci, George Orwell, Joe Grant, Eleanor Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, Jack Kirby, Harvey Milk, Marie Černá, Archimedes, Maya Tsosie, Stephen Hawking, Herman Jakobs, Nelson Mandela, Johannes Gutenberg, Confucius, Jan Kowalski, Abraham Lincoln, Catherine the Great, Joan of Arc, Thomas Edison, Amelia Earhart, Ts'ai Lun, Marie Antoinette, Mahatma Gandhi, Johnny Cash, Harriet Tubman, Grace O'Malley, Anna Kowalczyk, Pawet Jankowski, Queen Elizabeth, Balogh Tamás, Marie Curie, Aretha Franklin, Petar Jankovic, Prince Rogers Nelson, Muhammad Ali, Albert Einstein, María Izquierdo, Jiří Svobada, Martin Luther King Jr., Pablo Picasso, William Taylor, John Wilson, Emine Demir, Mary Johnson, Mike Oznowicz and Joe Ranft.
If those last two names on the list don't jump out at you, Joe Ranft wrote the original Toy Story before dying in a car accident in 2005 at age 45. Isidore "Mike" Oznowicz was a legendary puppeteer and the father of Frank Oz, who is also a puppeteer and of course the voice of many Muppets characters, as well as Yoda.
Pixar has long made a habit of planting Easter eggs like these name tags in all of their films, including such easy-to-miss references as the lamp from Pixar's logo being used in a statue WALL-E made of EVE, and the bully Sid from Toy Story making a cameo in Toy Story 3 as a garbage collector, among many, many other instances.
Soul also has its fair share of Easter eggs. Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed the appearance of "2319" on the side of a New York City subway car—the same code shouted when a human sock was found on a monster in Monsters, Inc. And the ubiquitous Pizza Planet truck also turns up in the new film.
The truck first appeared, of course, in Toy Story, when the characters actually went to the Pizza Planet restaurant. That iconic delivery truck has appeared in every Pixar film since, even in the Medieval setting of Brave. In Soul, a Pizza Planet truck can be spotted in The Hall of Everything. You'll may also find Axiom from WALL-E, and Willy's Butte from Cars in the same scene.
But the best Easter eggs require the most hunting, and Soul will likely have fans combing every frame of the movie in the coming weeks.


newsweek--2020-12-28--Georgia Senate Runoff Dems Attack GOP Incumbents for Opposing $2,000 Stimulus Checks

Georgia Democratic Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock criticized their opponents , Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler , on Monday for not expressing support for $ 2,000 stimulus checks , an amount President Donald Trump has asked lawmakers to provide .
Trump indicated on Wednesday that he would not sign the $ 900 billion stimulus bill if the amount of direct payments were not increased from $ 600 to $ 2,000 .
Loeffler and Perdue had used the passage of the bill as a campaign talking point .
Despite his continued attacks on the `` measly $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bill as written on Sunday .
The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the $ 2,000 stimulus checks on Monday .
Georgia 's Democratic senate candidates have pointed out the reluctance of their Republican opponents in supporting the higher payments .
Ossoff , who is running against Perdue , tweeted Monday that Perdue had never been in support of direct payments .
`` David Perdue did n't even want the first round of stimulus checks , '' Ossoff wrote in a tweet that featured video footage of Perdue saying , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oppose that . ''
Warnock , who is expected to run against Loeffler in January , pointed to Loeffler 's opposition to fattening stimulus checks in a Monday tweet .
`` Georgians could have gotten $ 2,000 relief checks , '' Warnock wrote .
`` You 're only getting $ 600—because @ KLoeffler refused to fight for more . ''
Newsweek reached out to Loeffler 's office for comment .
Perdue and Loeffler lauded Trump 's leadership for the passage of the bill in a joint statement on Sunday .
`` The coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic turnaround in American history , and Democrats are hellbent on a socialist agenda that prioritizes wasteful , irresponsible spending over the wellbeing of the American people , '' Loeffler and Perdue said Sunday .
Trump is expected to attend a campaign rally on behalf of Loeffler and Perdue on January 4 .
Georgia 's special elections could decide which party has control over the U.S. Senate .
Republicans only need one GOP candidate to win a special election in order to retain majority control of the Senate .
If Ossoff and Warnock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will both hold 50 percent of the Senate .
In the case of a deadlock , the tie-breaking vote would fall to Democrat Vice President-elect Kamala Harris .
GOP lawmakers largely oppose increasing the amount of stimulus checks .
On Thursday , House Republicans blocked an attempt by Democrats to pass a standalone bill that would have approved the distribution of the $ 2,000 checks .
Trump said in a statement that although he would sign the economic stimulus package , which was tied to a larger spending bill , problems still existed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send back to Congress a redlined version , item by item , accompanied by the formal rescission request to Congress insisting that those funds be removed from the bill , '' the president said in a Sunday statement .
`` Much more money is coming , '' he added .
`` I will never give up my fight for the American people ! ''

Georgia Democratic Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock criticized their Republican opponents, Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, on Monday for not expressing support for $2,000 stimulus checks.
Trump indicated on Wednesday that he would not sign the $900 billion stimulus bill if the amount of direct payments were not increased from $600 to $2,000. Loeffler and Perdue had used the passage of the bill as a campaign talking point. Despite his continued attacks on the "measly $600" stimulus checks, Trump signed the bill as written on Sunday. The House passed the $2,000 stimulus checks on Monday. Georgia's Democratic senate candidates have pointed out the reluctance of their Republican opponents in supporting the higher payments.
Ossoff, who is running against Perdue, tweeted Monday that Perdue had never been in support of direct payments. "David Perdue didn't even want the first round of stimulus checks," Ossoff wrote in a tweet that featured video footage of Perdue saying, "A direct payment, I really oppose that."
David Perdue didn’t even want the first round of stimulus checks.
pic.twitter.com/VC0sAgNR1j — Jon Ossoff (@ossoff) December 28, 2020
Warnock, who is expected to run against Loeffler in January, pointed to Loeffler's opposition to fattening stimulus checks in a Monday tweet. "Georgians could have gotten $2,000 relief checks," Warnock wrote. "You're only getting $600—because @KLoeffler refused to fight for more."
Georgians could have gotten $2,000 relief checks. You're only getting $600 — because @KLoeffler refused to fight for more. — Reverend Raphael Warnock (@ReverendWarnock) December 28, 2020
Asked for comment, Loeffler's office directed Newsweek to tweets detailing Loeffler's reactions to Trump's request for larger direct assistance payments.
".@SenatorLoeffler on Trump's call for $2,000 direct stimulus checks: 'I certainly support redirecting any wasteful spending to be very targeted at families and businesses who have been impacted by this virus through no fault of their own ...' #gapol #gasen" tweeted Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein on Wednesday.
"Asked directly if that meant she would support increasing the direct payments to $2k, Loeffler said: 'I'll certainly look at supporting it if it repurposes wasteful spending toward that, yes.' #gapol #gasen," Bluestein added in a second tweet.
Asked directly if that meant she would support increasing the direct payments to $2k, Loeffler said: “I'll certainly look at supporting it if it repurposes wasteful spending toward that, yes.” #gapol #gasen pic.twitter.com/249djyDRdQ — Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) December 23, 2020
Perdue and Loeffler lauded Trump's leadership for the passage of the bill in a joint statement on Sunday. "The coronavirus pandemic grinded to a halt the greatest economic turnaround in American history, and Democrats are hellbent on a socialist agenda that prioritizes wasteful, irresponsible spending over the wellbeing of the American people," Loeffler and Perdue said Sunday. Trump is expected to attend a campaign rally on behalf of Loeffler and Perdue on January 4.
Georgia's special elections could decide which party has control over the U.S. Senate. Republicans only need one GOP candidate to win a special election in order to retain majority control of the Senate. If Ossoff and Warnock emerge victorious, then Democrats and Republicans will both hold 50 percent of the Senate. In the case of a deadlock, the tie-breaking vote would fall to Democrat Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
GOP lawmakers largely oppose increasing the amount of stimulus checks. On Thursday, House Republicans blocked an attempt by Democrats to pass a standalone bill that would have approved the distribution of the $2,000 checks.
Trump said in a statement that although he would sign the economic stimulus package, which was tied to a larger spending bill, problems still existed within the proposal. "I will send back to Congress a redlined version, item by item, accompanied by the formal rescission request to Congress insisting that those funds be removed from the bill," the president said in a Sunday statement.
"Much more money is coming," he added. "I will never give up my fight for the American people!"


newsweek--2020-12-28--NCAA Files Federal Trademark on 'Mask Madness' to Mimic March Madness

The National Collegiate Athletic Association last week filed a federal trademark application for the term `` Mask Madness . ''
If approved , then the NCAA could brand the term and sell merchandise with that slogan .
It would also prevent outside people or organizations from profiting off the slogan without the NCAA 's permission .
The term `` Mask Madness '' is an obvious play on `` March Madness , '' which is the vastly-popular , wildly-entertaining and highly-profitable men 's college basketball tournament that 's mostly played , well , in March .
The men 's and women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately got canceled last spring because of the sudden COVID-19 pandemic that reached the shores of the U.S. in full force .
The NCAA typically scores about $ 1 billion in revenue from the 68-team men 's basketball tournament that takes three weeks to play—all on national TV .
The sudden cancellation of the men 's and women 's tournaments last March cost the NCAA approximately $ 375 million .
Football and men 's basketball are typically the only money-making sports at most universities , and that revenue generally helps fund other non-revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and others .
`` We 're going to take some hits there , '' Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said last spring .
Other beneficiaries from the NCAA 's mammoth Division basketball tournaments are the schools at the NCAA Division II and III levels , which do n't have giant money coffers like many Div .
I schools .
`` Mask Madness '' would n't be just a way to sell stuff , it would also be a way to promote wearing a mask during the ongoing pandemic .
Josh Gerben , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Intellectual Property , posted the news on his Twitter account Monday .
The NCAA has a long list of phrases that have registered trademarks and logos .
Some of the more notable NCAA trademarks include : • Road to the Final Four • The Road to Atlanta ( and to other cities ) The NCAA has more than 70 trademarks listed on its website , and adding Mask Madness would n't fall out of line with some of their non-sports initiatives that include : Beyond the Baseline , NCAA After the Game , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Final Four .
The collegiate sports league also has gender-specific trademarks for women 's basketball ( Women 's Final Four , Women 's Frozen Four , Women 's College World Series , etc. )
.
The NCAA 's website states that it must grant approval of the use of any trademark or logo .

The National Collegiate Athletic Association last week filed a federal trademark application for the term "Mask Madness." If approved, then the NCAA could brand the term and sell merchandise with that slogan. It would also prevent outside people or organizations from profiting off the slogan without the NCAA's permission.
The term "Mask Madness" is an obvious play on "March Madness," which is the vastly-popular, wildly-entertaining and highly-profitable men's college basketball tournament that's mostly played, well, in March.
The men's and women's NCAA Division I basketball tournaments both ultimately got canceled last spring because of the sudden COVID-19 pandemic that reached the shores of the U.S. in full force.
Players run across the March Madness logo during the game between the Clemson Tigers and the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. "Mask Madness" could become the NCAA's newest trademarked logo. Photo by Lance King/Getty Images
The NCAA typically scores about $1 billion in revenue from the 68-team men's basketball tournament that takes three weeks to play—all on national TV. The sudden cancellation of the men's and women's tournaments last March cost the NCAA approximately $375 million.
Football and men's basketball are typically the only money-making sports at most universities, and that revenue generally helps fund other non-revenue sports like golf, swimming, soccer and others.
"We're going to take some hits there," Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said last spring.
Other beneficiaries from the NCAA's mammoth Division basketball tournaments are the schools at the NCAA Division II and III levels, which don't have giant money coffers like many Div. I schools.
"Mask Madness" wouldn't be just a way to sell stuff, it would also be a way to promote wearing a mask during the ongoing pandemic.
Josh Gerben, the founder of the trademark law firm Gerben Intellectual Property, posted the news on his Twitter account Monday.
The NCAA has filed a trademark for MASK MADNESS.
The filing, made on December 23, indicates the NCAA will:
1. Sell "MASK MADNESS" branded face masks.
2. Start a "MASK MADNESS" public awareness campaign to promote the benefits of wearing a mask.#NCAA #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ODTBZykMfk — Josh Gerben (@JoshGerben) December 28, 2020
The NCAA has a long list of phrases that have registered trademarks and logos. Some of the more notable NCAA trademarks include:
March Madness
March to the Madness
First Four
NCAA Sweet Sixteen
NCAA Sweet 16
Elite Eight (and Elite 8)
Final Four
Road to the Final Four
The Road to Atlanta (and to other cities)
College World Series
Frozen Four
NCAA Championships
Selection Sunday
The Big Dance
The NCAA has more than 70 trademarks listed on its website, and adding Mask Madness wouldn't fall out of line with some of their non-sports initiatives that include: Beyond the Baseline, NCAA After the Game, Pinnacle of Fitness and Read to the Final Four.
The collegiate sports league also has gender-specific trademarks for women's basketball (Women's Final Four, Women's Frozen Four, Women's College World Series, etc.).
The NCAA's website states that it must grant approval of the use of any trademark or logo.


newsweek--2020-12-28--'Desperate' L.A. Restaurateur Blocks Health Officer's Car, Laments COVID Closures in Video

Carlos Roman , a Southern California restaurant owner , condemned COVID-19 restrictions that recently ordered food service establishments to suspend dining entirely in a confrontation with local health officers and police .
Roman received a citation from county health department personnel when an officer observed customers seated in an outdoor patio space adjacent to his restaurant on December 20 .
According to the owner , one person sat on a public bench near the patio .
Outdoor dining is prohibited under the terms of Los Angeles County 's new COVID-19 orders .
After receiving notice of the citation , Roman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's vehicle and , later , denounced COVID-19 regulations and their consequences for small businesses during an interaction with police .
One of Roman 's colleagues recorded the lengthy encounter , and video footage subsequently surfaced online in a post shared to the restaurant 's Facebook page .
The video received thousands of reactions from social media users , many of whom empathized with Roman , throughout the week that followed .
A GoFundMe campaign , created to support the restaurant , has raised more than $ 17,000 of its $ 25,000 goal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to come in and say , 'No one can work . '
So , he ca n't work either , '' Roman is heard telling a Covina police officer in last week 's video , while gesturing to the health inspector 's car .
The restaurateur said his business is facing financial challenges as a result of the county 's COVID-19 mitigation order , and said he is `` desperate '' for some form of relief .
He did not wear a face mask during any portion of the interaction .
Roman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position behind the health inspector 's car , a spokesperson from the Covina Police Department confirmed to Newsweek on Monday .
The spokesperson said `` peace was kept '' throughout the incident .
Roman owns an `` upscale pub , '' per its description on Facebook , in Covina , a city located about 25 miles outside of downtown Los Angeles .
The establishment , called Bread & Barley , was required to halt outdoor dining operations alongside other restaurants , breweries and wineries across Los Angeles County as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and delivery services can continue to operate .
The county health department issued updated guidelines for restaurants at the end of November , and again on December 11 , stipulating that temporary outdoor seating areas at these businesses must close .
Those mandates compounded slightly less strict instructions from the state health officer , released in conjunction with California 's regional stay-at-home order at the start of December .
As part of the citation for violating county health directives , authorities issued fines totaling roughly $ 1,000 to Bread & Barley following last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The owner told Newsweek on Monday that he plans to contest the penalties and potentially take legal action to challenge local COVID-19 orders .
He also said Bread & Barley does not intend to close its outdoor patio to the public .
`` I 'm trying to follow the rules as much as I can without going out of business , '' he said , noting that customers `` are welcome to eat outside '' in the restaurant 's patio space if they supply their own seating .
Roman has relayed these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barley 's social media accounts .
The restaurant 's indoor seating areas remain closed .
Updated at 5:18 p.m .
ET to include comments from a spokesperson at the Covina Police Department .

Carlos Roman, a Southern California restaurant owner, condemned COVID-19 restrictions that recently ordered food service establishments to suspend dining entirely in a confrontation with local health officers and police. Roman received a citation from county health department personnel when an officer observed customers seated in an outdoor patio space adjacent to his restaurant on December 20. According to the owner, one person sat on a public bench near the patio. Outdoor dining is prohibited under the terms of Los Angeles County's new COVID-19 orders.
After receiving notice of the citation, Roman parked his truck behind the health inspector's vehicle and, later, denounced COVID-19 regulations and their consequences for small businesses during an interaction with police.
One of Roman's colleagues recorded the lengthy encounter, and video footage subsequently surfaced online in a post shared to the restaurant's Facebook page. The video received thousands of reactions from social media users, many of whom empathized with Roman, throughout the week that followed. A GoFundMe campaign, created to support the restaurant, has raised more than $17,000 of its $25,000 goal since the video surfaced.
"He wants to come in and say, 'No one can work.' So, he can't work either," Roman is heard telling a Covina police officer in last week's video, while gesturing to the health inspector's car. The restaurateur said his business is facing financial challenges as a result of the county's COVID-19 mitigation order, and said he is "desperate" for some form of relief. He did not wear a face mask during any portion of the interaction.
Roman's truck was ultimately moved from its position behind the health inspector's car, a spokesperson from the Covina Police Department confirmed to Newsweek on Monday. The spokesperson said "peace was kept" throughout the incident.
Roman owns an "upscale pub," per its description on Facebook, in Covina, a city located about 25 miles outside of downtown Los Angeles. The establishment, called Bread & Barley, was required to halt outdoor dining operations alongside other restaurants, breweries and wineries across Los Angeles County as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations skyrocketed over the past month. Takeout and delivery services can continue to operate.
The county health department issued updated guidelines for restaurants at the end of November, and again on December 11, stipulating that temporary outdoor seating areas at these businesses must close. Those mandates compounded slightly less strict instructions from the state health officer, released in conjunction with California's regional stay-at-home order at the start of December.
Carlos Roman, a Los Angeles County restaurant owner, condemned new COVID-19 restrictions that prohibit outdoor dining services during a tense confrontation with local authorities last week. A tented area which had been used for outdoor dining at a Denny's restaurant in Los Angeles stands empty on on December 7. Mario Tama/Getty
As part of the citation for violating county health directives, authorities issued fines totaling roughly $1,000 to Bread & Barley following last week's inspection and confrontation with Roman. The owner told Newsweek on Monday that he plans to contest the penalties and potentially take legal action to challenge local COVID-19 orders. He also said Bread & Barley does not intend to close its outdoor patio to the public.
"I'm trying to follow the rules as much as I can without going out of business," he said, noting that customers "are welcome to eat outside" in the restaurant's patio space if they supply their own seating. Roman has relayed these policies to community members via Bread & Barley's social media accounts. The restaurant's indoor seating areas remain closed.
Updated at 5:18 p.m. ET to include comments from a spokesperson at the Covina Police Department.


newsweek--2020-12-28--GOP and Allies Go 0-5 in Georgia as Election Lawsuit Fails Ahead of Senate Runoffs

A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit that sought to stop the Senate runoff in Georgia , giving the Republican Party and allies an 0-5 record in election lawsuits in the state .
The lawsuit dismissed Monday was filed earlier this month by pro-Trump attorney Lin Wood in the U.S. District Court in Atlanta .
It sought to halt voting in the state 's Senate runoff elections on January 5 .
Lin wanted to change voting procedures , such as in verifying signatures on absentee ballots and the counting of ballots , before the contests were decided .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judge Timothy Batten Sr. denied Wood 's request for a temporary restraining order , and said that his claims were `` too speculative . ''
In response to the suit being dismissed , Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger wrote , `` Time and time again we have successfully fought off lawsuits from the right and the left looking to undermine rule of law in Georgia . ''
`` The numerous baseless and frivolous lawsuits , funded by unsuspecting Georgians who are being duped by Wood , are just the latest in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia , '' Raffensperger wrote in the statement .
Newsweek reached out to Raffensperger 's office for comment .
In addition to the suit dismissed on Monday , four other lawsuits in Georgia , filed by President Donald Trump and several other Republican allies , have also been dismissed ahead of the Senate runoff .
Last week , a federal judge in Augusta rejected a lawsuit filed by a Twelfth Congressional District Republican committee .
The lawsuit sought to end the use of ballot drop boxes and the early counting of mail-in ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit also challenged Raffensperger and his guidance to counties on absentee ballot signature matching , stating that the guidance discouraged local officials from rejecting ballots based on signatures .
Another lawsuit was filed by Republican incumbents in Georgia 's Senate runoffs , Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue , as well as the Georgia Republican Party and the National Republican Senatorial Committee .
The lawsuit aimed to change a March agreement between Democrats and election officials in the state that stopped the rejection of absentee ballots because of a different signature on the return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross , who said , `` Regarding standing on behalf of Senators Loeffler and Purdue , the alleged potential future injury to the candidates is far too speculative to substantiate an injury in fact . ''
Two other lawsuits were previously dismissed , with one filed by Trump and another from attorney Sidney Powell .
The Trump campaign distanced itself from Powell last month , despite a mid-November tweet in which the president called her part of a `` truly great '' legal team challenging the election results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Timothy Batten in Georgia dismissed Powell 's case , which aimed at decertifying the results of the state 's election , alleging widespread voter fraud .
Similarly , on December 7 , Georgia 's Republican leaders rejected a call from Trump to hold a special legislative session seeking to overturn the state 's election results .
Governor Brian Kemp and Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan said in a joint statement that holding a special session of the Georgia General Assembly `` in order to select a separate slate of presidential electors is not an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal law . ''

A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit that sought to stop the Senate runoff in Georgia, giving the Republican Party and allies an 0-5 record in election lawsuits in the state.
The lawsuit dismissed Monday was filed earlier this month by pro-Trump attorney Lin Wood in the U.S. District Court in Atlanta. It sought to halt voting in the state's Senate runoff elections on January 5. Lin wanted to change voting procedures, such as in verifying signatures on absentee ballots and the counting of ballots, before the contests were decided.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, U.S. District Judge Timothy Batten Sr. denied Wood's request for a temporary restraining order, and said that his claims were "too speculative."
In response to the suit being dismissed, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger wrote, "Time and time again we have successfully fought off lawsuits from the right and the left looking to undermine rule of law in Georgia."
A Georgia election lawsuit filed by pro-Trump attorney Lin Wood was rejected Monday for being "too speculative." Here an election worker is shown on November 13 in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Megan Varner/Getty
"The numerous baseless and frivolous lawsuits, funded by unsuspecting Georgians who are being duped by Wood, are just the latest in a long history of lawsuits to nowhere in Georgia," Raffensperger wrote in the statement.
Newsweek reached out to Raffensperger's office for comment.
In addition to the suit dismissed on Monday, four other lawsuits in Georgia, filed by President Donald Trump and several other Republican allies, have also been dismissed ahead of the Senate runoff.
Last week, a federal judge in Augusta rejected a lawsuit filed by a Twelfth Congressional District Republican committee. The lawsuit sought to end the use of ballot drop boxes and the early counting of mail-in ballots. According to the Journal-Constitution, the lawsuit also challenged Raffensperger and his guidance to counties on absentee ballot signature matching, stating that the guidance discouraged local officials from rejecting ballots based on signatures.
Another lawsuit was filed by Republican incumbents in Georgia's Senate runoffs, Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, as well as the Georgia Republican Party and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The lawsuit aimed to change a March agreement between Democrats and election officials in the state that stopped the rejection of absentee ballots because of a different signature on the return envelope.
The suit was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross, who said, "Regarding standing on behalf of Senators Loeffler and Purdue, the alleged potential future injury to the candidates is far too speculative to substantiate an injury in fact."
Two other lawsuits were previously dismissed, with one filed by Trump and another from attorney Sidney Powell. The Trump campaign distanced itself from Powell last month, despite a mid-November tweet in which the president called her part of a "truly great" legal team challenging the election results.
Earlier this month, Federal Judge Timothy Batten in Georgia dismissed Powell's case, which aimed at decertifying the results of the state's election, alleging widespread voter fraud.
Similarly, on December 7, Georgia's Republican leaders rejected a call from Trump to hold a special legislative session seeking to overturn the state's election results.
Governor Brian Kemp and Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan said in a joint statement that holding a special session of the Georgia General Assembly "in order to select a separate slate of presidential electors is not an option that is allowed under state or federal law."


newsweek--2020-12-28--Joe Biden Says His Team Isn't Getting Key National Security Info From Trump Administration

President-elect Joe Biden said Monday that he 's faced `` roadblocks '' in getting national security information during the presidential transition and that many of the relevant federal agencies themselves have been `` hollowed out . ''
`` Right now , we just are n't getting all of the information we need from the outgoing administration in key national security areas .
It 's nothing short , in my view , of irresponsibility , '' Biden said in a speech in Wilmington , Delaware , following a brief from members of his national security and foreign policy agency review teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` full visibility '' from agencies to `` avoid any window of confusion or catch-up that our adversaries may try to exploit . ''
He specifically highlighted obstruction from the Department of Defense and the Office of Management and Budget .
The president-elect was vocal about the challenges his administration will face after he is inaugurated on January 20 .
Biden promised Monday to rebuild alliances with foreign entities and restore America 's global reputation following President Donald Trump 's `` America First '' approach .
`` We 're going to have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world that has begun to find a way to work around us or work without us , '' Biden said .
The former vice president has already named several top members of his national security and foreign policy teams , many of them having served in the Obama administration .
He tapped his longtime foreign policy adviser Antony Blinken to serve as secretary of state , Avril Haines for director of national intelligence and Alejandro Mayorkas to lead the Department of Homeland Security .
`` These individuals are equally as experienced and crisis-tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the president-elect said in a previous statement .
`` Their accomplishments in diplomacy are unmatched , but they also reflect the idea that we can not meet the profound challenges of this new moment with old thinking and unchanged habits—or without diversity of background and perspective . ''
On Monday , Biden said a key challenge for his White House will be to rebuild the `` full set of our instruments of foreign policy and national security . ''
`` The truth is , many of the agencies that are critical to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
`` Many of them have been hollowed out—in personnel , capacity and in morale .
The policy processes have atrophied or have been sidelined ... .
It makes it harder for our government to protect the American people . ''
Newsweek has reached out to the White House and the Department of Defense for comment on Biden 's remarks but did not receive a response in time for publication .

President-elect Joe Biden said Monday that he's faced "roadblocks" in getting national security information during the presidential transition and that many of the relevant federal agencies themselves have been "hollowed out."
"Right now, we just aren't getting all of the information we need from the outgoing administration in key national security areas. It's nothing short, in my view, of irresponsibility," Biden said in a speech in Wilmington, Delaware, following a brief from members of his national security and foreign policy agency review teams.
He went on to call for "full visibility" from agencies to "avoid any window of confusion or catch-up that our adversaries may try to exploit." He specifically highlighted obstruction from the Department of Defense and the Office of Management and Budget.
Department of Defense spokesperson Sue Gough pushed back on Biden's assertion, telling Newsweek in an email statement that the department "has been completely transparent with the Biden-Harris Transition Team on the fiscal 2021 budget. We have also provided topline information on the fiscal 2022-2026 program to the Biden-Harris Transition Team. The Office of Management and Budget has not yet authorized the release of the full details of the FY22-26 program."
The president-elect was vocal about the challenges his administration will face after he is inaugurated on January 20. Biden promised Monday to rebuild alliances with foreign entities and restore America's global reputation following President Donald Trump's "America First" approach.
"We're going to have to regain the trust and confidence of a world that has begun to find a way to work around us or work without us," Biden said.
The former vice president has already named several top members of his national security and foreign policy teams, many of them having served in the Obama administration. He tapped his longtime foreign policy adviser Antony Blinken to serve as secretary of state, Avril Haines for director of national intelligence and Alejandro Mayorkas to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
"These individuals are equally as experienced and crisis-tested as they are innovative and imaginative," the president-elect said in a previous statement. "Their accomplishments in diplomacy are unmatched, but they also reflect the idea that we cannot meet the profound challenges of this new moment with old thinking and unchanged habits—or without diversity of background and perspective."
President-elect Joe Biden delivers remarks on December 28 in Wilmington, Delaware. Mark Makela/Getty
On Monday, Biden said a key challenge for his White House will be to rebuild the "full set of our instruments of foreign policy and national security."
"The truth is, many of the agencies that are critical to our security have incurred enormous damage," he said. "Many of them have been hollowed out—in personnel, capacity and in morale. The policy processes have atrophied or have been sidelined.... It makes it harder for our government to protect the American people."
Newsweek has reached out to the White House for comment on Biden's remarks but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Update (12/29/2020): This story has been updated to include comment from the Department of Defense.