newsweek--2020-11-25--Palestinians Hope for Better US Ties, Tougher Stance on Israel Under Biden

Palestinian leadership has expressed to Newsweek what it hopes to see from the upcoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden , who Palestinian officials hope will depart from the current White House 's staunchly pro-Israel policies to seek a more balanced approach on negotiations to end the decades-long Middle East conflict .
With roughly two months left in office , President Donald Trump sent Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Israel , where he became the first top U.S. diplomat to set foot on occupied territories in the West Bank—as well as Syria 's Golan Heights— and cemented the administrations ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States ' closest ally in the region .
To Palestinians , it was a parting shot .
Now , those tasked with engaging in future talks on behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organization , which represents the Palestinian government led by President Mahmoud Abbas , sees an opportunity to mend ties with Washington as the Biden administration begins its transition .
`` Palestine looks forward to strengthening relations with the U.S. under the administration of President-elect Joe Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris , '' the Negotiations Affairs Department of the PLO told Newsweek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palestinians seek a U.S. return to international consensus on certain key issues such as an end to Israel 's occupation and settlement construction on lands recognized as Palestinian by United Nations resolutions .
They are also seeking the eventual recognition of the eastern half the of the contested capital holy city of Jerusalem 's as a sovereign Palestinian state .
`` In line with international law and U.N. resolutions , we are also keen on engaging the U.S. in the multilateral effort to advance the Middle East Peace Process , with clear terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieving the internationally endorsed two-state solution on the 1967 borders , with East Jerusalem the capital of the State of Palestine , '' the statement said .
Palestinian leadership sees achieving these goals as intrinsic to its struggle , especially amid historic setbacks suffered under the Trump administration , and the sole way to prevent further deadly unrest .
`` After 53 years of occupation , oppression , and injustice , the only way forward is to end Israel 's occupation and colonial settlement enterprise towards fulfilling the national rights of the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our right to self-determination , '' the PLO 's Negotiations Affairs Department told Newsweek .
`` For our region to live in peace and security , it 's imperative to achieve independence , freedom , justice , and dignity for all . ''
Palestinian officials have previously shared their grievances with the Trump administration 's strategy , while Israelis have had few complaints about how the Trump administration has handled the historic feud .
Less than a year into his first term , Trump unilaterally declared the entirety of Jerusalem to be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv in a move that sparked violent , recurring protests that continue to this day .
To achieve a long-term solution , the president promised a so-called `` Deal of the Century , '' officially called the Peace to Prosperity plan .
The vision vowed up to $ 50 billion in investment in the economically beleaguered West Bank and Gaza , much of which was hoped to come from wealthy monarchies in the Arabian Peninsula .
But this would come in exchange for further fragmentation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fraction of their prior form before the outbreak of the1967 Six-Day War between Israel and a coalition of Arab states .
And while Arab countries continue to offer at least nominal support for the Palestinians , the Trump administration succeeded earlier this year in bringing back-door relations among regional states with Israel out in the open .
The United Arab Emirates , Bahrain and Sudan have all normalized ties with a country they long formally boycotted due to its policies toward Palestinians , and did so without the consent of Abbas ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a `` betrayal . ''
Biden has also commended these agreements , and calls for `` an ironclad commitment to Israel 's security '' in his official foreign policy position .
His website also includes a page dedicated specifically to his record as it relates to the Jewish community , including many references to supporting Israel .
Antony Blinken , Biden 's pick to replace Pompeo as Secretary of State , has also highlighted his upbringing as the stepson of a Holocaust survivor in a message meant to resound with Jewish audiences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration , Biden and Harris have also said they see more room for more engagement with Palestinians .
As to Biden 's official position , his campaign says he and Harris `` believe in the worth and value of every Palestinian and every Israeli , and we will work to ensure that Palestinians and Israelis enjoy equal measures of freedom , security , prosperity and democracy . ''
This likely means outright opposition to some of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's right-wing policies that were readily embraced by Trump .
Decisions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palestinian leadership could well be reversed .
`` We are committed to a two-state solution , and we will oppose any unilateral steps that undermine that goal , '' the official page says .
`` We will also oppose annexation and settlement expansion .
And we will take immediate steps to restore economic and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people , address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza , reopen the U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem and work to reopen the PLO mission in Washington . ''
A statement sent to Newsweek on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firm attributed the financial crisis preventing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East ( UNRWA ) from even meeting its employees ' salary requirements this month to `` a long-term implication of the Trump administration 's suspension of funding to the Agency starting in 2018 . ''
In a call Monday with Jordan 's King Abdullah II , Biden also said he looked forward to working with the monarch on `` supporting a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict , '' according to a readout released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his intention to reverse `` the Trump Administration 's destructive cutoff of diplomatic ties with the Palestinian Authority and cancellation of assistance programs that support Israeli-Palestinian security cooperation , economic development , and humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza . ''
As for what Israel would hope and anticipate to see from the Biden administration , the country 's embassy in Washington declined Newsweek 's request for comment .
Forced to contend with the exit of a U.S. administration that Netanyahu and his officials branded Israel 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two countries ' alliance would be fundamentally damaged , but an end to their absolute convergence in beliefs could see a restart to diplomacy .
Israel continues to regularly conduct strikes on the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement-controlled Gaza Strip , where militias repeatedly launch rockets on Israeli towns and cities .
Palestinian protests demanding a right to return to lands they lived on prior to the 1948 and 1967 wars continue as well , bringing frequent clashes with Israeli security forces .
Demonstrating its preparedness for another conflict amid ongoing unrest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercise simulating another invasion of Gaza over the weekend .
A related video sent to Newsweek showed Israeli ground forces conducting various kinds of training , including for combat , and an attached press release detailed the involvement of air , naval , cyber , intelligence and police forces as well .
Still , the declaration of Biden 's victory earlier this month appeared to already have somewhat of a stabilizing effect on the conflict .
As both sides congratulated the president-elect , they quietly agreed to resume all forms of cooperation amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreements they had previously reached .
On the part of Palestinians , Palestinian Authority Prisoners Affairs Commission told The New York Times on Thursday that a proposal had been introduced to end automatic payments to the families of those imprisoned by Israeli forces , a practice deemed controversial because its benefactors include families of those detained for violent crimes .
The new plan would instead offer compensation on the basis of economic need .
Biden had voiced his opposition to the original system in his policy page that related to his record with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the conditions for his restarting economic assistance to the Palestinian Authority consistent with the Taylor Force Act signed into law by Trump in 2018 .
The President-elect has vowed to `` work with the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to support peacebuilding efforts in the region , '' but , unlike his predecessor , sees the onus for changing course to pursue peace as being on both parties , not just the Palestinians .
`` Biden will urge Israel 's government and the Palestinian Authority to take steps to keep the prospect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' his policy states , `` and avoid actions such as unilateral annexation of territory and settlement activity , or support for incitement and violence , that undercut prospects for peace between the parties . ''

Palestinian leadership has expressed to Newsweek what it hopes to see from the upcoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden, who Palestinian officials hope will depart from the current White House's staunchly pro-Israel policies to seek a more balanced approach on negotiations to end the decades-long Middle East conflict.
With roughly two months left in office, President Donald Trump sent Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Israel, where he became the first top U.S. diplomat to set foot on occupied territories in the West Bank—as well as Syria's Golan Heights— and cemented the administrations' legacy of unprecedented alignment with the United States' closest ally in the region.
To Palestinians, it was a parting shot. Now, those tasked with engaging in future talks on behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which represents the Palestinian government led by President Mahmoud Abbas, sees an opportunity to mend ties with Washington as the Biden administration begins its transition.
"Palestine looks forward to strengthening relations with the U.S. under the administration of President-elect Joe Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris," the Negotiations Affairs Department of the PLO told Newsweek in a statement.
Above all, Palestinians seek a U.S. return to international consensus on certain key issues such as an end to Israel's occupation and settlement construction on lands recognized as Palestinian by United Nations resolutions. They are also seeking the eventual recognition of the eastern half the of the contested capital holy city of Jerusalem's as a sovereign Palestinian state.
"In line with international law and U.N. resolutions, we are also keen on engaging the U.S. in the multilateral effort to advance the Middle East Peace Process, with clear terms of reference and a timeline, towards achieving the internationally endorsed two-state solution on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem the capital of the State of Palestine," the statement said.
Palestinian leadership sees achieving these goals as intrinsic to its struggle, especially amid historic setbacks suffered under the Trump administration, and the sole way to prevent further deadly unrest.
"After 53 years of occupation, oppression, and injustice, the only way forward is to end Israel's occupation and colonial settlement enterprise towards fulfilling the national rights of the people of Palestine, foremost of which is our right to self-determination," the PLO's Negotiations Affairs Department told Newsweek. "For our region to live in peace and security, it's imperative to achieve independence, freedom, justice, and dignity for all."
A Palestinian man reads the Al-Quds newspaper, headlined in Arabic "Joe Biden the new US President" outside the Dome of the Rock in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site, in the Old City of Jerusalem on November 8. The U.S. election was closely watched around the world, with Israeli and Palestinian leadership likely having opposite reactions to the outcome. AHMAD GHARABLI//AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian officials have previously shared their grievances with the Trump administration's strategy, while Israelis have had few complaints about how the Trump administration has handled the historic feud.
Less than a year into his first term, Trump unilaterally declared the entirety of Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel, and soon after moved the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv in a move that sparked violent, recurring protests that continue to this day. To achieve a long-term solution, the president promised a so-called "Deal of the Century," officially called the Peace to Prosperity plan.
The vision vowed up to $50 billion in investment in the economically beleaguered West Bank and Gaza, much of which was hoped to come from wealthy monarchies in the Arabian Peninsula. But this would come in exchange for further fragmentation of Palestinian lands, which today are only a fraction of their prior form before the outbreak of the1967 Six-Day War between Israel and a coalition of Arab states.
And while Arab countries continue to offer at least nominal support for the Palestinians, the Trump administration succeeded earlier this year in bringing back-door relations among regional states with Israel out in the open. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan have all normalized ties with a country they long formally boycotted due to its policies toward Palestinians, and did so without the consent of Abbas' administration, which considers such policies to be a "betrayal."
Biden has also commended these agreements, and calls for "an ironclad commitment to Israel's security" in his official foreign policy position. His website also includes a page dedicated specifically to his record as it relates to the Jewish community, including many references to supporting Israel.
Antony Blinken, Biden's pick to replace Pompeo as Secretary of State, has also highlighted his upbringing as the stepson of a Holocaust survivor in a message meant to resound with Jewish audiences.
But in contrast to the Trump administration, Biden and Harris have also said they see more room for more engagement with Palestinians.
As to Biden's official position, his campaign says he and Harris "believe in the worth and value of every Palestinian and every Israeli, and we will work to ensure that Palestinians and Israelis enjoy equal measures of freedom, security, prosperity and democracy."
This likely means outright opposition to some of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing policies that were readily embraced by Trump. Decisions to downgrade economic assistance and political ties with Palestinian leadership could well be reversed.
"We are committed to a two-state solution, and we will oppose any unilateral steps that undermine that goal," the official page says. "We will also oppose annexation and settlement expansion. And we will take immediate steps to restore economic and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, reopen the U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem and work to reopen the PLO mission in Washington."
A statement sent to Newsweek on Wednesday by the West End Strategy communications firm attributed the financial crisis preventing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from even meeting its employees' salary requirements this month to "a long-term implication of the Trump administration's suspension of funding to the Agency starting in 2018."
In a call Monday with Jordan's King Abdullah II, Biden also said he looked forward to working with the monarch on "supporting a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," according to a readout released by his campaign.
He also stated his intention to reverse "the Trump Administration's destructive cutoff of diplomatic ties with the Palestinian Authority and cancellation of assistance programs that support Israeli-Palestinian security cooperation, economic development, and humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza."
As for what Israel would hope and anticipate to see from the Biden administration, the country's embassy in Washington declined Newsweek's request for comment.
Forced to contend with the exit of a U.S. administration that Netanyahu and his officials branded Israel's best friend, it's unlikely that the two countries' alliance would be fundamentally damaged, but an end to their absolute convergence in beliefs could see a restart to diplomacy.
Still, tensions remain high.
Israel continues to regularly conduct strikes on the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement-controlled Gaza Strip, where militias repeatedly launch rockets on Israeli towns and cities. Palestinian protests demanding a right to return to lands they lived on prior to the 1948 and 1967 wars continue as well, bringing frequent clashes with Israeli security forces.
Demonstrating its preparedness for another conflict amid ongoing unrest, the Israeli military conducted a surprise large-scale exercise simulating another invasion of Gaza over the weekend.
A related video sent to Newsweek showed Israeli ground forces conducting various kinds of training, including for combat, and an attached press release detailed the involvement of air, naval, cyber, intelligence and police forces as well.
Then-U.S. Vice Presicent Joe Biden (R) and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas shake hands following a meeting at the presidential compound in the city of Ramallah, in the West Bank, on March 9, 2016. The end of Biden's tenure as VP was marked by a cooling in relations between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who quickly went on to embrace U.S. President Donald Trump. DEBBIE HILL/AFP/Getty Images
Still, the declaration of Biden's victory earlier this month appeared to already have somewhat of a stabilizing effect on the conflict. As both sides congratulated the president-elect, they quietly agreed to resume all forms of cooperation amid assurances they were both still committed to agreements they had previously reached.
On the part of Palestinians, Palestinian Authority Prisoners Affairs Commission told The New York Times on Thursday that a proposal had been introduced to end automatic payments to the families of those imprisoned by Israeli forces, a practice deemed controversial because its benefactors include families of those detained for violent crimes. The new plan would instead offer compensation on the basis of economic need.
Biden had voiced his opposition to the original system in his policy page that related to his record with the Jewish community, citing it as one of the conditions for his restarting economic assistance to the Palestinian Authority consistent with the Taylor Force Act signed into law by Trump in 2018.
The President-elect has vowed to "work with the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to support peacebuilding efforts in the region," but, unlike his predecessor, sees the onus for changing course to pursue peace as being on both parties, not just the Palestinians.
"Biden will urge Israel's government and the Palestinian Authority to take steps to keep the prospect of a negotiated two-state outcome alive," his policy states, "and avoid actions such as unilateral annexation of territory and settlement activity, or support for incitement and violence, that undercut prospects for peace between the parties."


newsweek--2020-11-25--Mexican President Who Says Election Fraud Cost Him Win in 2006 Refuses to Congratulate Biden

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Wednesday that he would not congratulate President-elect Joe Biden until the U.S. election results were finalized .
Lopez Obrador became president of Mexico in 2018 after claiming election fraud caused him to lose his attempts to gain the office in 2006 and 2012 .
President Donald Trump has also asserted election fraud in the 2020 presidential election and has declined to concede victory .
While Biden has widely been named the winner of the 2020 U.S. election , Lopez Obrador has not shared a congratulatory message with Biden .
Many other world leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Chinese President Xi Jinping , have reached out to Biden to congratulate him on his apparent victory .
During a Wednesday press conference , Lopez Obrador said it wrong to congratulate Biden until the final results have the U.S. election had been confirmed .
`` We do not agree with offering congratulations in advance , '' Lopez Obrador said , according to Reuters .
`` What 's the best thing ?
For us to wait . ''
Newsweek reached out to the Embassy of Mexico in Washington , D.C. for comment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost Mexico 's presidential election to Felipe Calderon because of voting irregularities .
Lopez Obrador was ahead of Calderon until ballot tabulation was nearly completed when Calderon pulled ahead .
Despite a recount demanded by Lopez Obrador and allegations of voter fraud , Calderon was declared the winner of the election by less than a full percentage point .
Mexico 's 2012 election was marred by accusations of vote-buying on behalf of candidate Enrique Pena Nieto .
Lopez Obrador alleged that Nieto 's Institutional Revolutionary Party handed out pre-paid gift cards and grocery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controversy , Nieto won the election with 38.21 percent of voter support while Lopez Obrador came in second with 31.59 percent of the vote .
Lopez Obrador 's reticence to congratulate Biden has raised the ire of some Democrats .
`` Joe Biden lawfully and clearly won this election , '' former Texas Representative Beto O'Rourke said in November .
`` Every world leader should acknowledge this fact , including the president of our most important neighbor and ally , Mexico . ''
In a November tweet , Texas Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden a `` stunning diplomatic failure '' as Biden 's administration was hoping to `` usher in a new era of friendship and cooperation with Mexico . ''
Lopez Obrador has expressed admiration for Trump .
At a joint appearance following the signing of the USMCA trade agreement in July , Lopez Obrador said that Trump had given Mexico `` understanding and respect . ''
`` I believe that , towards the future , there will be no motive or need to break our very good political relationship or the friendship between our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Although Trump has instructed his team to allow Biden 's representatives to cooperate with the transition efforts , Trump has yet to offer a concession .
Trump 's legal team has initiated litigation to halt some areas from certifying the election results .

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Wednesday that he would not congratulate President-elect Joe Biden until the U.S. election results were finalized.
Lopez Obrador became president of Mexico in 2018 after claiming election fraud caused him to lose his attempts to gain the office in 2006 and 2012. President Donald Trump has also asserted election fraud in the 2020 presidential election and has declined to concede victory.
While Biden has widely been named the winner of the 2020 U.S. election, Lopez Obrador has not shared a congratulatory message with Biden. Many other world leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese President Xi Jinping, have reached out to Biden to congratulate him on his apparent victory.
During a Wednesday press conference, Lopez Obrador said it wrong to congratulate Biden until the final results have the U.S. election had been confirmed. "We do not agree with offering congratulations in advance," Lopez Obrador said, according to Reuters. "What's the best thing? For us to wait."
Newsweek reached out to the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, D.C. for comment.
In 2006, Lopez Obrador claimed he lost Mexico's presidential election to Felipe Calderon because of voting irregularities. Lopez Obrador was ahead of Calderon until ballot tabulation was nearly completed when Calderon pulled ahead. Despite a recount demanded by Lopez Obrador and allegations of voter fraud, Calderon was declared the winner of the election by less than a full percentage point.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has refused to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden on his election win until all the legal challenges to the election results have been resolved. Hector Vivas/Getty
Mexico's 2012 election was marred by accusations of vote-buying on behalf of candidate Enrique Pena Nieto. Lopez Obrador alleged that Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party handed out pre-paid gift cards and grocery items to potential voters. Despite the controversy, Nieto won the election with 38.21 percent of voter support while Lopez Obrador came in second with 31.59 percent of the vote.
Lopez Obrador's reticence to congratulate Biden has raised the ire of some Democrats.
"Joe Biden lawfully and clearly won this election," former Texas Representative Beto O'Rourke said in November. "Every world leader should acknowledge this fact, including the president of our most important neighbor and ally, Mexico."
In a November tweet, Texas Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro called Lopez Obrador's refusal to congratulate Biden a "stunning diplomatic failure" as Biden's administration was hoping to "usher in a new era of friendship and cooperation with Mexico."
Lopez Obrador has expressed admiration for Trump. At a joint appearance following the signing of the USMCA trade agreement in July, Lopez Obrador said that Trump had given Mexico "understanding and respect."
"I believe that, towards the future, there will be no motive or need to break our very good political relationship or the friendship between our two administrations," Lopez Obrador said.
Although Trump has instructed his team to allow Biden's representatives to cooperate with the transition efforts, Trump has yet to offer a concession. Trump's legal team has initiated litigation to halt some areas from certifying the election results.


newsweek--2020-11-25--House Judiciary Committee Chairman Blasts Trump for Flynn Pardon, Warns Americans Must Be 'Vigilant

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Blasts Trump for Flynn Pardon, Warns Americans Must Be 'Vigilant to Additional Abuses of Power'

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler condemned Donald Trump 's decision to pardon Michael Flynn , a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and the sitting president 's former national security adviser , on Wednesday afternoon .
The Democratic congressman 's criticism came shortly after Trump announced the culmination of Flynn 's protracted federal case on Twitter .
Flynn is the second Trump ally who the president absolved of legal repercussions linked to their conduct surrounding the Russia investigation .
He commuted Roger Stone 's sentence in July , despite the conservative political consultant 's conviction on seven felony counts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This pardon is undeserved , unprincipled , and one more strain on President Trump 's rapidly diminishing legacy , '' Nadler said of Flynn 's pardon in a statement , echoing numerous messages shared to the comments section of Trump 's announcement on social media .
The president 's past discussions about potentially pardoning Flynn , as well as reports that speculated he would follow through after his election loss , were similarly criticized .
`` It 's important to talk about why the President pardoned Flynn , '' Nadler 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before , in the Roger Stone case—where President Trump granted clemency to protect an individual who might have implicated the President in criminal misconduct .
We may see it again before President Trump finally leaves office .
These actions are an abuse of power and fundamentally undermine the rule of law . ''
`` President-Elect Biden will soon take office and restore a measure of honor to the Office of the President , '' Nadler said further .
`` Between now and then , we must be vigilant to additional abuses of power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to days to come . ''
In a controversial but partly anticipated move , Trump formally commuted Flynn 's charges via Presidential Pardon earlier Wednesday .
`` It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon , '' Trump wrote on Twitter Wednesday afternoon .
`` Congratulations to @ GenFlynn and his wonderful family .
I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving ! ''
Flynn served a short stint as national security adviser during the first month of Trump 's presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the role in February of that year , when initial reports began to circulate regarding his correspondence with Sergey Kislyak , who was Russian ambassador to the U.S. at the time .
During the federal inquiry into that followed , Flynn twice pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about his contact with the Russian diplomat amid its wider investigation into Russian election interference ahead of Trump 's 2016 win .
Flynn quickly struck a deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller pledging to cooperate .
Attorney General William Barr initiated a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that prosecutors drop charges against him last spring .
Trump , who was impeached by the U.S. House after an inquiry into his own relations with Russia months prior , had previously advocated for the same .
Although the Justice Department did ultimately strive to drop the charges , the judge assigned to Flynn 's case opposed the effort .
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a reply in time for publication .

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler condemned Donald Trump's decision to pardon Michael Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and the sitting president's former national security adviser, on Wednesday afternoon. The Democratic congressman's criticism came shortly after Trump announced the culmination of Flynn's protracted federal case on Twitter.
Flynn is the second Trump ally who the president absolved of legal repercussions linked to their conduct surrounding the Russia investigation. He commuted Roger Stone's sentence in July, despite the conservative political consultant's conviction on seven felony counts, including witness tampering and lying to investigators.
"This pardon is undeserved, unprincipled, and one more strain on President Trump's rapidly diminishing legacy," Nadler said of Flynn's pardon in a statement, echoing numerous messages shared to the comments section of Trump's announcement on social media. The president's past discussions about potentially pardoning Flynn, as well as reports that speculated he would follow through after his election loss, were similarly criticized.
"It's important to talk about why the President pardoned Flynn," Nadler's statement continued. "We saw it before, in the Roger Stone case—where President Trump granted clemency to protect an individual who might have implicated the President in criminal misconduct. We may see it again before President Trump finally leaves office. These actions are an abuse of power and fundamentally undermine the rule of law."
"President-Elect Biden will soon take office and restore a measure of honor to the Office of the President," Nadler said further. "Between now and then, we must be vigilant to additional abuses of power, even as we look with hope to days to come."
Michael Flynn, former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, is pictured exiting the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in Washington, D.C., in June 2019. Trump pardoned Flynn of all charges related to his conduct during the Russia investigation on Wednesday. Alex Wroblewski/Getty
In a controversial but partly anticipated move, Trump formally commuted Flynn's charges via Presidential Pardon earlier Wednesday.
"It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon," Trump wrote on Twitter Wednesday afternoon. "Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family. I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving!"
Flynn served a short stint as national security adviser during the first month of Trump's presidency in early 2017. He resigned from the role in February of that year, when initial reports began to circulate regarding his correspondence with Sergey Kislyak, who was Russian ambassador to the U.S. at the time.
During the federal inquiry into that followed, Flynn twice pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about his contact with the Russian diplomat amid its wider investigation into Russian election interference ahead of Trump's 2016 win. Flynn quickly struck a deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller pledging to cooperate.
Attorney General William Barr initiated a review of Flynn's case and recommended that prosecutors drop charges against him last spring. Trump, who was impeached by the U.S. House after an inquiry into his own relations with Russia months prior, had previously advocated for the same. Although the Justice Department did ultimately strive to drop the charges, the judge assigned to Flynn's case opposed the effort.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a reply in time for publication.


newsweek--2020-11-25--Why Isn't a New 'Masked Singer' on Tonight? Find Out When Season 4, Episode 9 Airs

Season 4 of The Masked Singer is getting to be a tight race .
Only two more contestants can move forward to The Masked Singer semi-finals .
However , viewers will have to wait another day before they get to see Group C members Mushroom , Jellyfish and Broccoli compete for their chance to snag one of the last remaining spots .
The Group C finals wo n't air during the show 's regularly scheduled time slot on Fox on Wednesday night at 8 p.m .
ET .
Instead , the last remaining mystery singers of the group will face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extravaganza on Thursday on Fox , at its normally scheduled time of 8 p.m .
ET .
The Masked Singer will still air on Wednesday , except it will be a repeat episode of Season 4 .
The Masked Singer Thanksgiving special should be the whipped cream on top of the sweet potato pie for viewers who tune into the show after dinner .
In addition to hearing the delectable melodies of Broccoli , Mushroom and Jellyfish , viewers will be delighted to a few other surprises throughout the show—there 's a chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make an appearance on the show as a guest judge .
Judges Ken Jeong , Nicole Scherzinger , Robin Thicke and Jenny McCarthy will be there too , celebrating Thanksgiving with contestants and spreading holiday cheer .
Jeong will be doing what he does best , cracking jokes and causing a scene with a whole turkey on his head .
The two members to win the most judge and viewer votes on Thanksgiving will join Group A members The Sun and Popcorn , as well as Group B members Seahorse and Crocodile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to begin on Fox on December 2 .
So far in the competition , there have been some pretty big reveals , starting with the first elimination of the season with Group A 's Dragon , who turned out to be Busta Rhymes .
Since then , fellow Group A members Giraffe , who turned out to be Brian Austin Green , and the Snow Owls , a.k.a .
country crooners and married couple Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black , have been eliminated .
Group B members faced a double elimination during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Whatchamacallit , while Serpent turned out to be the singing surgeon Dr. Elvis Francois .
They joined Group B members Mark Sanchez , who was Baby Alien , and Mickey Rourke , who posed as Gremlin , in the elimination pit .
Meanwhile , Group B has since lost Squiggly Monster , who was none other than Bob Saget , and Wendy Williams , who was moonlighting as The Lips .

Season 4 of The Masked Singer is getting to be a tight race.
Only two more contestants can move forward to The Masked Singer semi-finals. However, viewers will have to wait another day before they get to see Group C members Mushroom, Jellyfish and Broccoli compete for their chance to snag one of the last remaining spots.
The Group C finals won't air during the show's regularly scheduled time slot on Fox on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET. Instead, the last remaining mystery singers of the group will face off on The Masked Singer's Thanksgiving extravaganza on Thursday on Fox, at its normally scheduled time of 8 p.m. ET.
The Masked Singer will still air on Wednesday, except it will be a repeat episode of Season 4.
The contestant Mushroom performs on "The Masked Singer" Season 4, episode 9, which airs on Fox on November 26, 2020. Michael Becker/Fox
The Masked Singer Thanksgiving special should be the whipped cream on top of the sweet potato pie for viewers who tune into the show after dinner. In addition to hearing the delectable melodies of Broccoli, Mushroom and Jellyfish, viewers will be delighted to a few other surprises throughout the show—there's a chance that a former Masked Singer contestant may make an appearance on the show as a guest judge.
Judges Ken Jeong, Nicole Scherzinger, Robin Thicke and Jenny McCarthy will be there too, celebrating Thanksgiving with contestants and spreading holiday cheer. Jeong will be doing what he does best, cracking jokes and causing a scene with a whole turkey on his head.
We're serving up a special Thanksgiving episode. 🦃😜
Celebrate with #TheMaskedSinger Group C finals — THURSDAY at 8/7c! pic.twitter.com/JGKYWyEOkA — The Masked Singer (@MaskedSingerFOX) November 24, 2020
The two members to win the most judge and viewer votes on Thanksgiving will join Group A members The Sun and Popcorn, as well as Group B members Seahorse and Crocodile, in the Season 4 semi-finals, set to begin on Fox on December 2.
So far in the competition, there have been some pretty big reveals, starting with the first elimination of the season with Group A's Dragon, who turned out to be Busta Rhymes. Since then, fellow Group A members Giraffe, who turned out to be Brian Austin Green, and the Snow Owls, a.k.a. country crooners and married couple Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black, have been eliminated.
Group B members faced a double elimination during episode 8. Lonzo Ball was outed as Whatchamacallit, while Serpent turned out to be the singing surgeon Dr. Elvis Francois. They joined Group B members Mark Sanchez, who was Baby Alien, and Mickey Rourke, who posed as Gremlin, in the elimination pit.
Meanwhile, Group B has since lost Squiggly Monster, who was none other than Bob Saget, and Wendy Williams, who was moonlighting as The Lips.


newsweek--2020-11-25--Video Shows Huge Line of Travelers Lined Up at Orlando Airport Day Before Thanksgiving, Despite Plea

Video Shows Huge Line of Travelers Lined Up at Orlando Airport Day Before Thanksgiving, Despite Pleas to Stay Home

A huge line of travelers were caught on video at the Orlando International Airport on Wednesday , despite please from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and health care workers across the country urging Americans to stay home for Thanksgiving .
According to data released by the Transportation Security Administration , nearly 5 million people passed through airport security checkpoints between Friday , November 20 and Tuesday November 24 .
Sunday marked the busiest day of air travel since the pandemic began in March , with the agency screening 1,047,934 people .
The numbers of travelers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a massive surge in virus cases .
Over 1 million new cases were recorded over the past week alone , bringing the country 's total to 12.7 million , according to data from the CDC and Johns Hopkins University .
On Tuesday , the U.S. logged its highest death toll since early May , with over 2,100 new fatalities , The Washington Post reported .
In light of these numbers , the CDC has urged Americans that the safest way to spend Thanksgiving is by staying home .
`` As cases continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with .
Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu , '' the agency wrote on its website .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's leading infectious disease expert , told CBS ' Face the Nation that people traveling by plane are going to cause trouble for the country .
`` You see the clips on TV , people at airports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things we 've got to realize are going to get us into even more trouble than we 're in right now , '' he said .
Fauci went on to explain that new cases from Thanksgiving travel wo n't be known for a few weeks , which could create even more issues as the nation heads into colder months and the December holiday season .
`` One of the things we 're really concerned about is that as we get into this Thanksgiving season , you 're not going to see an increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he stated .
`` So what you do n't want to see is another spike in cases as we get colder and colder into the December and then you start dealing with the Christmas holiday .
We can really be in a very difficult situation . ''
Nonetheless , an estimated 50 million Americans are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday .
According to a poll conducted by the data and survey firm Dynata at the request of The New York Times , Louisiana and Oklahoma are the top two states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ households over the holiday period , with 35 percent stating they will .
South Carolina followed closely behind with 34 percent .
The survey also found that the top 10 states in which people are most likely to avoid CDC guidelines each voted for Trump , highlighting a growing issue between the COVID-19 pandemic and politics .
Health care workers across the country have joined the CDC in issuing pleas to encourage Americans to stay safe and responsible for the holiday .
`` We urge the public to stay home this holiday season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next year no one is missing from the dining table , '' said Bonnie Castillo , a resident nurse and executive director of the National Nurses United , America 's largest union of registered nurses , during a virtual conference .
`` You need to listen to the nurses ... .
Social distance .
Wear a mask .
Avoid large crowds .
I know the holiday season is upon us .
Are you willing to give up one holiday season for 10 more ? ''
added Consuelo Vargas , an emergency room nurse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning to celebrate Thanksgiving outside of their homes , the CDC recommends wearing a mask with two or more layers , keeping a social distance of at least six feet from people you do not live with and washing your hands frequently with soap and water .
`` Avoid going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled , such as in the kitchen .
Use single-use options , like salad dressing and condiment packets , and disposable items like food containers , plates and utensils , '' @ @ @ @

A huge line of travelers were caught on video at the Orlando International Airport on Wednesday, despite please from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and health care workers across the country urging Americans to stay home for Thanksgiving.
Travelers lined up at Orlando International Airport in Florida the day before Thanksgiving.
The CDC has urged the public to spend the holiday at home as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise. https://t.co/8towF4q3jl pic.twitter.com/x8RC0EYxj1 — ABC News (@ABC) November 25, 2020
According to data released by the Transportation Security Administration, nearly 5 million people passed through airport security checkpoints between Friday, November 20 and Tuesday November 24.
Sunday marked the busiest day of air travel since the pandemic began in March, with the agency screening 1,047,934 people.
The numbers of travelers come as the U.S. continues to see a massive surge in virus cases. Over 1 million new cases were recorded over the past week alone, bringing the country's total to 12.7 million, according to data from the CDC and Johns Hopkins University.
On Tuesday, the U.S. logged its highest death toll since early May, with over 2,100 new fatalities, The Washington Post reported.
In light of these numbers, the CDC has urged Americans that the safest way to spend Thanksgiving is by staying home.
"As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with. Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu," the agency wrote on its website.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, told CBS' Face the Nation that people traveling by plane are going to cause trouble for the country.
"You see the clips on TV, people at airports. I mean, those are the things we've got to realize are going to get us into even more trouble than we're in right now," he said.
Fauci went on to explain that new cases from Thanksgiving travel won't be known for a few weeks, which could create even more issues as the nation heads into colder months and the December holiday season.
"One of the things we're really concerned about is that as we get into this Thanksgiving season, you're not going to see an increase until weeks later. Things lag," he stated. "So what you don't want to see is another spike in cases as we get colder and colder into the December and then you start dealing with the Christmas holiday. We can really be in a very difficult situation."
Nonetheless, an estimated 50 million Americans are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Holiday travelers pass through Los Angeles international Airport on Thanksgiving eve as the COVID-19 spike worsens and stay-at-home restrictions are increased on November 25. An estimated 50 million people are expected to travel throughout the country for the holiday, despite pleas from the CDC to stay home. David McNew/Getty
According to a poll conducted by the data and survey firm Dynata at the request of The New York Times, Louisiana and Oklahoma are the top two states where people said they intend on mixing households over the holiday period, with 35 percent stating they will. South Carolina followed closely behind with 34 percent.
The survey also found that the top 10 states in which people are most likely to avoid CDC guidelines each voted for Trump, highlighting a growing issue between the COVID-19 pandemic and politics.
Health care workers across the country have joined the CDC in issuing pleas to encourage Americans to stay safe and responsible for the holiday.
"We urge the public to stay home this holiday season, to make sure that this time next year no one is missing from the dining table," said Bonnie Castillo, a resident nurse and executive director of the National Nurses United, America's largest union of registered nurses, during a virtual conference.
"You need to listen to the nurses.... Social distance. Wear a mask. Avoid large crowds. I know the holiday season is upon us. Are you willing to give up one holiday season for 10 more?" added Consuelo Vargas, an emergency room nurse in Chicago.
For those who are planning to celebrate Thanksgiving outside of their homes, the CDC recommends wearing a mask with two or more layers, keeping a social distance of at least six feet from people you do not live with and washing your hands frequently with soap and water.
"Avoid going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled, such as in the kitchen. Use single-use options, like salad dressing and condiment packets, and disposable items like food containers, plates and utensils," the agency added.


newsweek--2020-11-25--Joe Biden Should Investigate Trump, Dem Rep Argues: 'We Cannot Dismiss Accountability'

Democrat New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell encouraged President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday to launch an investigation into alleged unlawful activities committed by President Donald Trump .
Trump has been accused of exerting undue influence over the Department of Justice ( DOJ ) in order to assist his compatriots .
Biden has said that during his administration he would not direct the DOJ to investigate Trump .
During an interview with MSNBC , Pascrell expressed concern that Biden 's reluctance to investigate Trump would `` send the wrong message . ''
`` We send the message that this is n't so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , '' Pascrell said .
`` Let 's make amends , it 's a new administration , they have their own agenda , which is true .
We can smoke and walk at the same time , as well as chewing gum .
The point of the matter is we can not dismiss accountability .
And if you do not have accountability , that 's the wrong message to send to our children . ''
Newsweek reached out to Biden 's transition team for comment .
Pascrell called for Biden 's administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter in November .
`` In 2021 the entire Trump regime must be fully investigated by the Dept of Justice and other relevant offices , '' Pascrell tweeted .
`` Trump and his worst enablers must be tried for their crimes .
Any further pardon abuse would itself be obstruction of justice and any self-pardons illegal . ''
`` Trump & members of his admin have committed innumerable crimes , '' Pascrell continued .
`` He has endangered natl security .
He ripped families apart .
He has profited from his office .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ He 's engaged in treachery , in treason .
If he had a shred of dignity he 'd resign today . ''
Biden indicated during an interview with NBC News on Tuesday that he would not `` do what this president does and use the Justice Department as my vehicle to insist that something happen . ''
Some critics have pointed to the actions of the DOJ as signs that Trump has attempted to appropriate the department for his own benefit .
Journalist E. Jean Carroll claimed in June 2019 that Trump had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a New York department store in the mid-1990s .
Trump released a statement claiming that he had `` never met '' Carroll .
In response , Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump in November 2019 .
In September , the DOJ attempted to replace Trump 's personal attorneys in the case with government lawyers , asserting that Trump had been acting as a government employee when he said Carroll was lying about the assault .
The DOJ attempted to make the U.S. Government the defendant in the lawsuit instead of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal judge in November .
The DOJ also commuted the sentence of Trump adviser Roger Stone , allegedly at Trump 's behest .
Stone had been convicted of lying to Congress in connection with Trump 's 2016 campaign .
Initially , DOJ attorneys recommended a prison sentence of up to 9 years for Stone .
After Trump repeatedly claimed that Stone was being treated unfairly , the DOJ commuted Stone 's sentence to 40 months .
Attorney General William Barr denied allegations that the DOJ acted at Trump 's beck and call .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullied or influenced by anybody , '' Barr said during a February interview with ABC News , `` whether it 's Congress , newspaper editorial boards or the president .
I 'm going to do what I think is right . ''

Democrat New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell encouraged President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday to launch an investigation into alleged unlawful activities committed by President Donald Trump.
Trump has been accused of exerting undue influence over the Department of Justice (DOJ) in order to assist his compatriots. Biden has said that during his administration he would not direct the DOJ to investigate Trump. During an interview with MSNBC, Pascrell expressed concern that Biden's reluctance to investigate Trump would "send the wrong message."
"We send the message that this isn't so significant that we have to go after it," Pascrell said. "Let's make amends, it's a new administration, they have their own agenda, which is true. We can smoke and walk at the same time, as well as chewing gum. The point of the matter is we cannot dismiss accountability. And if you do not have accountability, that's the wrong message to send to our children."
Newsweek reached out to Biden's transition team for comment.
Some Democrats have called for an investigation into President Donald Trump after President-elect Joe Biden takes over the White House. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty
Pascrell called for Biden's administration to look into Trump's activities on Twitter in November.
"In 2021 the entire Trump regime must be fully investigated by the Dept of Justice and other relevant offices," Pascrell tweeted. "Trump and his worst enablers must be tried for their crimes. Any further pardon abuse would itself be obstruction of justice and any self-pardons illegal."
"Trump & members of his admin have committed innumerable crimes," Pascrell continued. "He has endangered natl security. He ripped families apart. He has profited from his office. He has tried to throttle democracy. He's engaged in treachery, in treason. If he had a shred of dignity he'd resign today."
Trump & members of his admin have committed innumerable crimes. He has endangered natl security. He ripped families apart. He has profited from his office. He has tried to throttle democracy. He‘s engaged in treachery, in treason. If he had a shred of dignity he‘d resign today. — Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) November 17, 2020
Biden indicated during an interview with NBC News on Tuesday that he would not "do what this president does and use the Justice Department as my vehicle to insist that something happen."
Some critics have pointed to the actions of the DOJ as signs that Trump has attempted to appropriate the department for his own benefit. Journalist E. Jean Carroll claimed in June 2019 that Trump had sexually assaulted her in the dressing room of a New York department store in the mid-1990s. Trump released a statement claiming that he had "never met" Carroll. In response, Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump in November 2019.
In September, the DOJ attempted to replace Trump's personal attorneys in the case with government lawyers, asserting that Trump had been acting as a government employee when he said Carroll was lying about the assault. The DOJ attempted to make the U.S. Government the defendant in the lawsuit instead of Trump. That motion was dismissed by a federal judge in November.
The DOJ also commuted the sentence of Trump adviser Roger Stone, allegedly at Trump's behest. Stone had been convicted of lying to Congress in connection with Trump's 2016 campaign. Initially, DOJ attorneys recommended a prison sentence of up to 9 years for Stone. After Trump repeatedly claimed that Stone was being treated unfairly, the DOJ commuted Stone's sentence to 40 months.
Attorney General William Barr denied allegations that the DOJ acted at Trump's beck and call. "I'm not going to be bullied or influenced by anybody," Barr said during a February interview with ABC News, "whether it's Congress, newspaper editorial boards or the president. I'm going to do what I think is right."


newsweek--2020-11-25--Pennsylvania AG and Lt. Gov Blast Trump, 'Fake' GOP Election Hearing: 'Devoid of Reality'

Pennsylvania 's attorney general and lieutenant governor blasted President Donald Trump 's GOP election hearing on Wednesday , saying that it was `` sad and tragic '' as well as `` devoid of reality . ''
In a tweet , Pennsylvania 's Attorney General Josh Shapiro wrote , `` The sitting president 's remarks today were devoid of reality .
The election is over .
Pennsylvania has certified results & declared Joe Biden the winner of our Commonwealth . ''
Shapiro added , `` Lying through a cell phone at a fake hearing changes nothing . ''
Newsweek reached out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive a response in time for publication .
Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman echoed Shapiro 's remarks while appearing on SiriusXM 's The Dean Obeidallah Show .
`` This is an Amway convention in a holiday ballroom , that 's all it is .
They 're going to sell the same kind of products that no one really believes is legitimate , '' Fetterman said .
`` And that 's the problem here , with all of this .
I just put this out on social media , the Pennsylvania GOP is saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not our races , you know there was n't any fraud in our races that elected us . ''
He continued , `` There 's nothing about this that is n't said in tragic , and that 's why I do think it 's like an Amway convention in a hotel ballroom . ''
While speaking with Newsweek , Fetterman made similar remarks and said , `` it was just such a bizarre scene . ''
`` It was an odd mix of snake handling and Amway in a hotel ballroom , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was n't a Senate hearing , there was nothing official about it .
It was just some weird revival centered around lies about Pennsylvania 's election . ''
Criticism from both Shapiro and Fetterman comes shortly after Trump 's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani appeared at a public hearing in Gettysburg to discuss seemingly baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in the state , despite election officials certifying President-elect Joe Biden 's victory .
While Trump did not attend the meeting in person , he called in to make claims that he won the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to turn the election over , '' Trump said on the call , which was played on speakerphone during the hearing .
`` This election was rigged and we ca n't let that happen .
We ca n't let it happen to our country .
And this election has to be turned around because we won Pennsylvania by a lot and we won all these swing states by a lot . ''
Despite Trump 's claims , state and local election officials have stated that there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several lawsuits , seeking to prevent the state from certifying election results .
On Saturday , Judge Matthew Brann of the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Pennsylvania wrote in a decision that , `` In the United States of America , this can not justify the disenfranchisement of a single voter , let alone all the voters of its sixth most populated state .
Our people , laws , and institutions demand more . ''
`` At bottom , Plaintiffs have failed to meet their burden to state a claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Brann added in the decision .
Newsweek reached out to Trump 's campaign for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication .

Pennsylvania's attorney general and lieutenant governor blasted President Donald Trump's GOP election hearing on Wednesday, saying that it was "sad and tragic" as well as "devoid of reality."
In a tweet, Pennsylvania's Attorney General Josh Shapiro wrote, "The sitting president's remarks today were devoid of reality. The election is over. Pennsylvania has certified results & declared Joe Biden the winner of our Commonwealth."
Shapiro added, "Lying through a cell phone at a fake hearing changes nothing."
The sitting president’s remarks today were devoid of reality.
The election is over. Pennsylvania has certified results & declared Joe Biden the winner of our Commonwealth.
Lying through a cell phone at a fake hearing changes nothing. — Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) November 25, 2020
Newsweek reached out to Shapiro for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman echoed Shapiro's remarks while appearing on SiriusXM's The Dean Obeidallah Show.
"This is an Amway convention in a holiday ballroom, that's all it is. They're going to sell the same kind of products that no one really believes is legitimate," Fetterman said. "And that's the problem here, with all of this. I just put this out on social media, the Pennsylvania GOP is saying that there is voter fraud in Pennsylvania, but not our races, you know there wasn't any fraud in our races that elected us."
He continued, "There's nothing about this that isn't said in tragic, and that's why I do think it's like an Amway convention in a hotel ballroom."
While speaking with Newsweek, Fetterman made similar remarks and said, "it was just such a bizarre scene."
"It was an odd mix of snake handling and Amway in a hotel ballroom," Fetterman told Newsweek. "It wasn't a Senate hearing, there was nothing official about it. It was just some weird revival centered around lies about Pennsylvania's election."
Supporters of President Donald Trump cheer as the Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy Committee holds a public hearing Wednesday at the Wyndham Gettysburg Hotel to discuss the 2020 election issues and irregularities with President Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani on November 25, 2020 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Samuel Corum/Getty
Criticism from both Shapiro and Fetterman comes shortly after Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani appeared at a public hearing in Gettysburg to discuss seemingly baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in the state, despite election officials certifying President-elect Joe Biden's victory.
While Trump did not attend the meeting in person, he called in to make claims that he won the election in Pennsylvania.
"We have to turn the election over," Trump said on the call, which was played on speakerphone during the hearing. "This election was rigged and we can't let that happen. We can't let it happen to our country. And this election has to be turned around because we won Pennsylvania by a lot and we won all these swing states by a lot."
Despite Trump's claims, state and local election officials have stated that there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the state's election, and several lawsuits, seeking to prevent the state from certifying election results.
On Saturday, Judge Matthew Brann of the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Pennsylvania wrote in a decision that, "In the United States of America, this cannot justify the disenfranchisement of a single voter, let alone all the voters of its sixth most populated state. Our people, laws, and institutions demand more."
"At bottom, Plaintiffs have failed to meet their burden to state a claim upon which relief may be granted," Brann added in the decision.
Newsweek reached out to Trump's campaign for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.


newsweek--2020-11-25--Romance Novelists Raise Nearly $400,000 for Dems in Georgia Runoff

A group of romance novelists have raised nearly $ 400,000 for the two Democratic Senate candidates , Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff , headed to Georgia 's January runoffs .
Romance authors Alyssa Cole , Courtney Milan and Kit Rocha ( the pseudonym of writing duo Donna Herren and Bree Bridges ) organized Romancing the Runoff , an auction raising funds for three voter organization in Georgia : former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams ' Fair Fight , the New Georgia Project , and Black Voters Matter .
`` Democracy only thrives when every vote can be cast and counted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismantle the legacy of voter suppression in Georgia , '' the group 's mission statement reads .
The four authors said they were inspired by fellow romance author Abrams ' advocacy work and wanted to help the Peach State elect the two Democratic senators , a victory which would grant the Democrats control of the U.S. Senate .
Between 2001 and 2009 , Abrams wrote eight romantic suspense novels under her pen name Selena Montgomery .
Back in 2018 , she told The Washington Post : `` Romance is one of the oldest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honored to be in the company of extraordinary writers . ''
Abrams was also largely credited with flipping Georgia blue in the last presidential election .
The last time the state voted for a Democratic presidential candidate was in 1992 when Georgia elected Bill Clinton .
According to the auction 's website , Romancing the Runoff was organized in 12 hours and raised $ 95,000 before the auction launched .
In less than 10 minutes , the group reached their auction goal of $ 25,000 .
After expanding their fundraising goal to $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Runoff an hour to hit their new target .
By the time the auction was live for 12 hours , the group raised $ 100,000 towards the Democratic efforts in Georgia .
The auction , which includes items such as signed novels , TV pilot consultations and author-hosted events , has raised over $ 398,000 .
The group 's call for auction items was so well-received that the group had to cut off donations within the first 24 hours .
Romancing the Runoff largely attributes the outpour of support to the tight-knit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deeply political genre , and a deeply political community .
We believe in inclusion , progress , community , and—most of all—happy endings , '' Romancing the Runoff told Newsweek .
The group said their experience writing in the romance genre is critical to their understanding of what democracy is , an idea they believe Abrams embodies when advocating for the right to vote .
`` Stacey Abrams is one of our own , '' the authors said in an email .
`` We mean that in multiple senses of the word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a celebrated author in her own right .
But also , she exemplifies everything that our genre is about .
Romance is not—as some people believe—a genre in which good things happen easily .
It 's a genre about fighting for what you believe in . ''

A group of romance novelists have raised nearly $400,000 for the two Democratic Senate candidates, Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, headed to Georgia's January runoffs.
Romance authors Alyssa Cole, Courtney Milan and Kit Rocha (the pseudonym of writing duo Donna Herren and Bree Bridges) organized Romancing the Runoff, an auction raising funds for three voter organization in Georgia: former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams' Fair Fight, the New Georgia Project, and Black Voters Matter.
"Democracy only thrives when every vote can be cast and counted, and we are fighting to help dismantle the legacy of voter suppression in Georgia," the group's mission statement reads.
The four authors said they were inspired by fellow romance author Abrams' advocacy work and wanted to help the Peach State elect the two Democratic senators, a victory which would grant the Democrats control of the U.S. Senate.
Between 2001 and 2009, Abrams wrote eight romantic suspense novels under her pen name Selena Montgomery. Back in 2018, she told The Washington Post: "Romance is one of the oldest forms of storytelling, and I'm honored to be in the company of extraordinary writers."
Abrams was also largely credited with flipping Georgia blue in the last presidential election. The last time the state voted for a Democratic presidential candidate was in 1992 when Georgia elected Bill Clinton.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff are seen at a campaign event on November 19, 2020 in Jonesboro, Georgia. A group of romance novelists have raised nearly $400,000 for Warnock and Ossoff in their upcoming runoff races. Elijah Nouvelage/Stringer
According to the auction's website, Romancing the Runoff was organized in 12 hours and raised $95,000 before the auction launched.
In less than 10 minutes, the group reached their auction goal of $25,000. After expanding their fundraising goal to $50,000, it only took Romancing the Runoff an hour to hit their new target.
By the time the auction was live for 12 hours, the group raised $100,000 towards the Democratic efforts in Georgia.
The auction, which includes items such as signed novels, TV pilot consultations and author-hosted events, has raised over $398,000.
The group's call for auction items was so well-received that the group had to cut off donations within the first 24 hours. Romancing the Runoff largely attributes the outpour of support to the tight-knit, romance community.
"Romance has been a deeply political genre, and a deeply political community. We believe in inclusion, progress, community, and—most of all—happy endings," Romancing the Runoff told Newsweek.
The group said their experience writing in the romance genre is critical to their understanding of what democracy is, an idea they believe Abrams embodies when advocating for the right to vote.
"Stacey Abrams is one of our own," the authors said in an email. "We mean that in multiple senses of the word. She is Selena [Montgomery], a celebrated author in her own right. But also, she exemplifies everything that our genre is about. Romance is not—as some people believe—a genre in which good things happen easily. It's a genre about fighting for what you believe in."


newsweek--2020-11-25--This is America's Last Shot at Global Leadership. Don't Squander It | Opinion

Foreign policy did not play a significant role in the Presidential election campaign .
However , neither America nor the world can afford the new Administration to take a holiday from global engagement .
It is not just that there are pressing problems to be addressed .
The global power structure is changing .
Former Australian Prime Minister and noted China expert Kevin Rudd has argued that America 's claim to global leadership is in the last chance saloon .
The post-election statement from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier contained an urgent message : the new Administration needs to reunite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West '' ) , and if it does n't , then we are looking at a very different global order .
Fortunately , the President-Elect 's experience and commitments create the prospect of early momentum .
President-Elect Biden clearly understands that strength comes from allies , ideas and example , not just a strong economy and military .
He needs to show for the sake of internationalists everywhere that foreign engagement is not about putting your own country second .
For the U.S. , it is core to a stronger America .
COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and represents an issue where going global is indispensable .
This disease of the connected needs to be beaten everywhere .
That takes reintegration into the World Health Organization , which needs to be strengthened following this crisis , but also takes more .
The Administration needs to strengthen international pandemic response in the short term , recovery in the medium term ( including through global distribution of vaccines ) , and preparedness for the long term .
At the moment 64 developing countries—including 18 where the International Rescue Committee operates—spend more on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Wealthy nations have collectively allocated $ 11 trillion to COVID response , and need to do more .
The UN has shown how a global commitment of less than 1 perecent of that amount would protect the world 's poorest from the health and economic impacts of the virus .
A U.S. contribution of $ 20 billion , although a fraction of the domestic effort , would show the US means business .
It is clear that climate change will be a priority across the Administration and throughout its term .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commitments to go carbon neutral , a new U.S. approach is welcome .
However , long-term action on climate can not come at the expense of people dying today for America 's absence from the world stage .
Principled global engagement means urgent humanitarian diplomacy .
Yemen is only the most pressing example .
The President-Elect has already signaled his intent to end US arms sales to Saudi Arabia and by proxy US support for the misbegotten war strategy of the Saudi-led coalition .
This is long overdue .
As UN Aid Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yemenis are not 'going hungry . '
They are being starved . ''
The Syria nightmare has got worse not better since Biden left office .
It has become emblematic of failed diplomacy , Russian muscle-flexing , human misery—and since 2017 , the demonization of refugees .
In four years the Trump Administration has reduced by 85 percent the number of refugees being allowed into the country .
Whereas in FY 2016 over 12,500 Syrians made a new life in America , in FY 2020 it was 481 .
Biden has made bold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is vital to uphold America 's promise to the world 's most vulnerable .
Increased admissions must however be buttressed by support to countries hosting refugees abroad , because nearly 90 percent of the world 's refugees live in poorer countries without the resources and capacity to meet their needs .
It is the most vulnerable refugees—a mere 1 percent of the total refugee population per year—that have access to resettlement .
With conflicts burning longer , on average less than 3 percent of refugees are able to return home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in humanitarian aid that support refugees to rebuild their lives in countries of first refuge .
In these policy areas , American leadership can be the prelude to further international commitments by other countries .
Nowhere is that more true than south of the US border , in the Northern Triangle of El Salvador , Guatemala and Honduras .
Five years ago , Vice President Biden announced a plan to surge $ 750 million in foreign assistance to Central America .
But the Trump team reversed course , alongside a host of inhumane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is massive human misery in the flow of people from those countries , at the US border , and in the unconscionable family separation that has become symbolic of the American approach under President Trump .
The right to seek asylum is fundamental to international and US law .
The process should be credible , humane , efficient and fair , and those seeking asylum should not be detained in high-risk conditions while their legal cases are proceeding .
It took four months on average last year in Germany compared to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the roots of the humanitarian challenge lie in gang violence , economic hardship and political instability over 1000 miles away .
A serious regional approach led by the US would recognize this .
None of these measures are substitutes for effective domestic policy reform .
Nor do they eliminate the need for hard-headed diplomacy on the structural geopolitical questions the world faces , notably about the US-China relationship .
But all of them are necessary for America to fulfil its promise to its own citizens – that each generation is safer and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them would create a new geopolitical reality , in which America gains allies rather than loses them .
While the contours of global politics are in flux , the fundamental dividing line is clear .
Is the 21st century to be marked by a new Age of Impunity , with the rule of law in retreat at home and abroad , or are the enlightened forces of accountability and humanity strong enough to ward off the abuse of power ?
Without America engaged , the battle can not be won .
David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ International Rescue Committee ( IRC ) .
The views expressed in this article are the author 's own.

Foreign policy did not play a significant role in the Presidential election campaign. However, neither America nor the world can afford the new Administration to take a holiday from global engagement. It is not just that there are pressing problems to be addressed. The global power structure is changing.
Former Australian Prime Minister and noted China expert Kevin Rudd has argued that America's claim to global leadership is in the last chance saloon. The post-election statement from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier contained an urgent message: the new Administration needs to reunite the liberal democratic political alliance ("the West"), and if it doesn't, then we are looking at a very different global order.
Fortunately, the President-Elect's experience and commitments create the prospect of early momentum. President-Elect Biden clearly understands that strength comes from allies, ideas and example, not just a strong economy and military. He needs to show for the sake of internationalists everywhere that foreign engagement is not about putting your own country second.
For the U.S., it is core to a stronger America.
COVID is the number one priority at home and represents an issue where going global is indispensable. This disease of the connected needs to be beaten everywhere. That takes reintegration into the World Health Organization, which needs to be strengthened following this crisis, but also takes more. The Administration needs to strengthen international pandemic response in the short term, recovery in the medium term (including through global distribution of vaccines), and preparedness for the long term.
At the moment 64 developing countries—including 18 where the International Rescue Committee operates—spend more on debt service every year than on health. Wealthy nations have collectively allocated $11 trillion to COVID response, and need to do more. The UN has shown how a global commitment of less than 1 perecent of that amount would protect the world's poorest from the health and economic impacts of the virus. A U.S. contribution of $20 billion, although a fraction of the domestic effort, would show the US means business.
It is clear that climate change will be a priority across the Administration and throughout its term. With Europe, China and Japan all making commitments to go carbon neutral, a new U.S. approach is welcome. However, long-term action on climate cannot come at the expense of people dying today for America's absence from the world stage.
Principled global engagement means urgent humanitarian diplomacy. Yemen is only the most pressing example. The President-Elect has already signaled his intent to end US arms sales to Saudi Arabia and by proxy US support for the misbegotten war strategy of the Saudi-led coalition. This is long overdue. As UN Aid Chief Mark Lowcock said this week: "Yemenis are not 'going hungry.' They are being starved."
The Syria nightmare has got worse not better since Biden left office. It has become emblematic of failed diplomacy, Russian muscle-flexing, human misery—and since 2017, the demonization of refugees. In four years the Trump Administration has reduced by 85 percent the number of refugees being allowed into the country. Whereas in FY 2016 over 12,500 Syrians made a new life in America, in FY 2020 it was 481.
Biden has made bold commitments to welcome 125,000 refugees per year. This is vital to uphold America's promise to the world's most vulnerable. Increased admissions must however be buttressed by support to countries hosting refugees abroad, because nearly 90 percent of the world's refugees live in poorer countries without the resources and capacity to meet their needs. It is the most vulnerable refugees—a mere 1 percent of the total refugee population per year—that have access to resettlement. With conflicts burning longer, on average less than 3 percent of refugees are able to return home. The U.S. must press for bold changes in humanitarian aid that support refugees to rebuild their lives in countries of first refuge.
In these policy areas, American leadership can be the prelude to further international commitments by other countries. Nowhere is that more true than south of the US border, in the Northern Triangle of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
Five years ago, Vice President Biden announced a plan to surge $750 million in foreign assistance to Central America. But the Trump team reversed course, alongside a host of inhumane asylum policies. Five years on, there is massive human misery in the flow of people from those countries, at the US border, and in the unconscionable family separation that has become symbolic of the American approach under President Trump.
The right to seek asylum is fundamental to international and US law. The process should be credible, humane, efficient and fair, and those seeking asylum should not be detained in high-risk conditions while their legal cases are proceeding. It took four months on average last year in Germany compared to a three-to-four-year backlog in the US. But the roots of the humanitarian challenge lie in gang violence, economic hardship and political instability over 1000 miles away. A serious regional approach led by the US would recognize this.
None of these measures are substitutes for effective domestic policy reform. Nor do they eliminate the need for hard-headed diplomacy on the structural geopolitical questions the world faces, notably about the US-China relationship. But all of them are necessary for America to fulfil its promise to its own citizens – that each generation is safer and more prosperous than the last. And all of them would create a new geopolitical reality, in which America gains allies rather than loses them.
While the contours of global politics are in flux, the fundamental dividing line is clear. Is the 21st century to be marked by a new Age of Impunity, with the rule of law in retreat at home and abroad, or are the enlightened forces of accountability and humanity strong enough to ward off the abuse of power? Without America engaged, the battle cannot be won.
David Miliband is CEO and president of the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
The views expressed in this article are the author's own.


newsweek--2020-11-25--Geraldo Rivera Praises Donald Trump for Michael Flynn Pardon

Geraldo Rivera is pleased to hear that Michael Flynn was pardoned after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with a Russian official amid the 2016 election .
The journalist and political commentator took to Twitter to thank Donald Trump for the former National Security Advisor 's pardon , and to wish his followers a happy Thanksgiving .
`` Bravo @ realDonaldTrump for Doing the right thing and granting a pardon to an American hero @ GenFlynn Michael Flynn , '' the conservative pundit tweeted on Wednesday afternoon , shortly after Trump announced the pardon .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flynn and family .
Happy Thanksgiving . ''
Rivera considers Trump a friend , and they appeared together on The Celebrity Apprentice in 2015 .
On Wednesday , Trump wrote : `` It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon .
Congratulations to @ GenFlynn and his wonderful family , I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving ! ''
In February 2017 , Flynn resigned after 22 days on the job as National Security Advisor .
Previously , Flynn served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from July 2012 to August 2014 .
As per NPR , Flynn was the only member of the Trump administration to be charged as part of special counsel Robert Mueller 's Russia investigation .
He had been in contact with Russia 's then-ambassador to the United States , Sergey Kislyak , and was n't honest with Vice President Mike Pence about their communication .
Suspicions rose surrounding Flynn , as the lies grew .
NPR notes that Flynn lied to the FBI when he denied instructing Moscow to ignore sanctions from then President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Russia 's interference in it .
Though Flynn ultimately pleaded guilty , he tried to get the plea thrown out and the case abandoned .
In spring 2020 , the Justice Department abandoned the case , as per CNN .
Trump also tweeted that he was considering pardoning Flynn in March .
`` So now it is reported that , after destroying his life & the life of his wonderful family ( and many others also ) , the FBI , working in conjunction with the Justice Department , has 'lost ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump wrote at the time .
`` How convenient .
I am strongly considering a Full Pardon ! ''
Wednesday 's pardon brings an end to the long and drawn out legal battle that Flynn faced the past three years .
This is n't the first pardon that Trump has bestowed during his presidency .
According to The New York Times , Trump previously pardoned New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik , former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich , financier Michael R. Milken and others `` convicted of fraud , corruption and other @ @ @

Geraldo Rivera is pleased to hear that Michael Flynn was pardoned after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with a Russian official amid the 2016 election. The journalist and political commentator took to Twitter to thank Donald Trump for the former National Security Advisor's pardon, and to wish his followers a happy Thanksgiving.
"Bravo @realDonaldTrump for Doing the right thing and granting a pardon to an American hero @GenFlynn Michael Flynn," the conservative pundit tweeted on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after Trump announced the pardon. "Well done President Trump. Congratulations General Flynn and family. Happy Thanksgiving."
Rivera considers Trump a friend, and they appeared together on The Celebrity Apprentice in 2015.
Bravo @realDonaldTrump for Doing the right thing and granting a pardon to an American hero @GenFlynn Michael Flynn. Well done President Trump. Congratulations General Flynn and family. Happy Thanksgiving — Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) November 25, 2020
On Wednesday, Trump wrote: "It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon. Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving!"
It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon. Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2020
FOX News Correspondent Geraldo Rivera attends the Fox News Channel 10th Anniversary celebration on October 4, 2006 in New York City. Peter Kramer/Getty Images
In February 2017, Flynn resigned after 22 days on the job as National Security Advisor. Previously, Flynn served as Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency from July 2012 to August 2014.
As per NPR, Flynn was the only member of the Trump administration to be charged as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. He had been in contact with Russia's then-ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, and wasn't honest with Vice President Mike Pence about their communication. Suspicions rose surrounding Flynn, as the lies grew. NPR notes that Flynn lied to the FBI when he denied instructing Moscow to ignore sanctions from then President Barack Obama following the 2016 presidential election and Russia's interference in it.
Though Flynn ultimately pleaded guilty, he tried to get the plea thrown out and the case abandoned.
In spring 2020, the Justice Department abandoned the case, as per CNN. Trump also tweeted that he was considering pardoning Flynn in March. "So now it is reported that, after destroying his life & the life of his wonderful family (and many others also), the FBI, working in conjunction with the Justice Department, has 'lost' the records of General Michael Flynn," Trump wrote at the time. "How convenient. I am strongly considering a Full Pardon!"
So now it is reported that, after destroying his life & the life of his wonderful family (and many others also), the FBI, working in conjunction with the Justice Department, has “lost” the records of General Michael Flynn. How convenient. I am strongly considering a Full Pardon! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2020
Wednesday's pardon brings an end to the long and drawn out legal battle that Flynn faced the past three years.
This isn't the first pardon that Trump has bestowed during his presidency. According to The New York Times, Trump previously pardoned New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, financier Michael R. Milken and others "convicted of fraud, corruption and other crimes."


newsweek--2020-11-25--Washington Gov. Predicts 'Triage Situation' if State's Coronavirus Rise Continues

Washington Governor Jay Inslee said hospitals will likely have to shift into crisis mode with triaging patients as a possibility if the state 's coronavirus case count continues ticking at its current upward trajectory .
Like many states across the U.S. , Washington has reported a recent spike in daily COVID-19 infections .
State health officials reported more than 1,000 new infections for the first time in a single day in late October , and the state 's seven-day rolling average of new daily cases was above 1,400 by Monday , according to state data .
According to Johns Hopkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's testing positivity rate over the last month was above 7 percent , while its testing positivity rate over the past week exceeded 16 percent .
`` The weight that is on our shoulders right now is the knowledge that , unless something changes in the course of this pandemic , we will reach a situation where hospitals not only have to deny people care for a whole [ multitude ] of things—cancer treatment , defibrillators , hips , knees , you name it—but they will also have to move into a critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide care for critically ill people whose life is threatened , '' Inslee said during a news conference on Tuesday .
`` We 'll have to move , to some degree , into a triage situation to see who can get that adequate care .
And that will happen unless the trajectory of this disease is changed in some fashion , '' Inslee said .
`` We can not allow that to happen in our state . ''
Inslee said his office has been working with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data .
The research institute , which is based at the University of Washington , creates projections for case , death and hospitalization numbers for individual states and countries based on available data and restrictions put in place by local leaders .
`` From my observations , in December at some point—unless something changes—we very well could be in a situation with catastrophic loss of medical care in the state of Washington , '' Inslee said .
In response to the state 's rising case count , Inslee issued additional restrictions earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place through December 14 .
At the time he announced the restrictions , Inslee compared the state 's struggle with spiking infections to the status of the pandemic during the spring , a comparison he reiterated during Tuesday 's news conference .
Dr. Kathy Lofy , a state health officer with the Washington Department of Health , and Nathan Schlicher , the president of the Washington State Medical Association , also expressed concern about the struggles hospitals could face in the coming weeks .
Lofy said that hospitals have started postponing non-urgent medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans as part of their pandemic response .
`` Those are plans to care for more patients than they normally do , '' Lofy said .
`` They would initially start cutting back on almost all procedures that can wait , and then implementing those surge plans to see more patients than they usually do . ''
Schlicher said some hospitals are already at record occupancy and experiencing strain in terms of space for treating patients and having enough staff members available for providing care .
`` It 's not just equipment—it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schlicher said .
`` This peak is not demonstrating that it is going to relent in any way .
It continues to climb and grow , and our people are just under such strain .
That triage mentality and that crisis standards of care will be something that will be hard for the people making those decisions , and will be hard on the families who hear that their loved one does n't get something that they feel is needed . ''
Newsweek reached out to the Washington Department of Health for further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any response .

Washington Governor Jay Inslee said hospitals will likely have to shift into crisis mode with triaging patients as a possibility if the state's coronavirus case count continues ticking at its current upward trajectory.
Like many states across the U.S., Washington has reported a recent spike in daily COVID-19 infections. State health officials reported more than 1,000 new infections for the first time in a single day in late October, and the state's seven-day rolling average of new daily cases was above 1,400 by Monday, according to state data.
According to Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center, Washington's testing positivity rate over the last month was above 7 percent, while its testing positivity rate over the past week exceeded 16 percent.
"The weight that is on our shoulders right now is the knowledge that, unless something changes in the course of this pandemic, we will reach a situation where hospitals not only have to deny people care for a whole [multitude] of things—cancer treatment, defibrillators, hips, knees, you name it—but they will also have to move into a critical care situation where they simply cannot provide care for critically ill people whose life is threatened," Inslee said during a news conference on Tuesday.
A nurse on infection control accompanies a patient being transferred from the ICU COVID unit to the acute care COVID unit at Harborview Medical Center on May 7 in Seattle. On Tuesday, Washington Governor Jay Inslee warned residents that hospitals could face "a triage situation" if the number of COVID-19 cases continues increasing throughout the state. Karen Ducey/Getty
"We'll have to move, to some degree, into a triage situation to see who can get that adequate care. And that will happen unless the trajectory of this disease is changed in some fashion," Inslee said. "We cannot allow that to happen in our state."
Inslee said his office has been working with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation to further assess the state's COVID-19 data. The research institute, which is based at the University of Washington, creates projections for case, death and hospitalization numbers for individual states and countries based on available data and restrictions put in place by local leaders.
"From my observations, in December at some point—unless something changes—we very well could be in a situation with catastrophic loss of medical care in the state of Washington," Inslee said.
In response to the state's rising case count, Inslee issued additional restrictions earlier this month that are expected to remain in place through December 14. At the time he announced the restrictions, Inslee compared the state's struggle with spiking infections to the status of the pandemic during the spring, a comparison he reiterated during Tuesday's news conference.
Dr. Kathy Lofy, a state health officer with the Washington Department of Health, and Nathan Schlicher, the president of the Washington State Medical Association, also expressed concern about the struggles hospitals could face in the coming weeks.
Lofy said that hospitals have started postponing non-urgent medical procedures and will next activate their surge plans as part of their pandemic response. "Those are plans to care for more patients than they normally do," Lofy said. "They would initially start cutting back on almost all procedures that can wait, and then implementing those surge plans to see more patients than they usually do."
Schlicher said some hospitals are already at record occupancy and experiencing strain in terms of space for treating patients and having enough staff members available for providing care.
"It's not just equipment—it's space and it's people," Schlicher said. "This peak is not demonstrating that it is going to relent in any way. It continues to climb and grow, and our people are just under such strain. That triage mentality and that crisis standards of care will be something that will be hard for the people making those decisions, and will be hard on the families who hear that their loved one doesn't get something that they feel is needed."
Newsweek reached out to the Washington Department of Health for further comment and will update this article with any response.