newsweek--2020-11-23--Trump Mulls Fresh China Sanctions, Beijing Accuses U.S. of 'Oppressing' Foreign Companies

China has condemned the White House after reports suggested President Donald Trump is considering new sanctions on 89 Chinese companies accused of ties to the country 's military .
Reuters reported Monday that the administration is `` close '' to declaring that 89 Chinese companies are linked to the People 's Liberation Army , citing a draft copy of a list seen by the agency .
The designation would prevent these companies from purchasing a range of American goods and technology ; bad news for American producers that sell aviation parts to Chinese companies .
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday that Beijing `` firmly opposes the unprovoked suppression of Chinese companies by the United States . ''
`` The U.S. should stop extending and stretching the concept of national security to oppress foreign companies , '' Zhao added .
The spokesperson said that all Chinese companies operate in accordance with the law and strictly follow local laws and regulations when operating overseas .
The Trump administration has accused several major Chinese companies of operating as arms of the Chinese state .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has described such companies as `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) and its intelligence apparatus can obtain sensitive American data or industrial technology .
Prominent examples of the Trump administration 's effort to sideline such companies are its offensive against the Huawei telecommunications giant , and its push to force the Chinese ByteDance developer to sell its TikTok app .
On Sunday , China 's state-media owned China Daily newspaper said America 's industrial policy towards China under Trump had been part of the administration 's `` scaremongering , '' and likened Pompeo to an `` annoying alarm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list seen by Reuters is part of a draft identifying a series of Chinese and Russian companies as `` military end users . ''
This will mean that U.S. suppliers must obtain special licenses to sell to them .
According to Reuters , these licenses are more often denied than granted .
Among the companies on list is the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China ( COMAC ) , which competes with the Boeing and Airbus aerospace giants .
The company has collaborated with Boeing and the Canadian Bombardier corporations to develop commercial aircraft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of China , a state-owned conglomerate with more than 100 subsidiaries and more than 450,000 employees .
In June , the White House put AVIC on a list of firms it said were controlled or owned by the PLA .
AVIC is a shareholder in COMAC .
Bloomberg reported that General Electric could be one of the big losers if the new list is published .
The corporation is a COMAC supplier and is collaborating with the French Safran SA company on new engines for COMAC 's C919 narrow-body plane .
A recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market predicted the nation 's airlines would purchase some 8,600 new planes over the next 20 years for a total of $ 1.4 trillion .
The White House 's new designation of China 's major aviation firms could block American companies from some of those profits .

China has condemned the White House after reports suggested President Donald Trump is considering new sanctions on 89 Chinese companies accused of ties to the country's military.
Reuters reported Monday that the administration is "close" to declaring that 89 Chinese companies are linked to the People's Liberation Army, citing a draft copy of a list seen by the agency.
The designation would prevent these companies from purchasing a range of American goods and technology; bad news for American producers that sell aviation parts to Chinese companies.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters at a daily briefing Monday that Beijing "firmly opposes the unprovoked suppression of Chinese companies by the United States."
"The U.S. should stop extending and stretching the concept of national security to oppress foreign companies," Zhao added. The spokesperson said that all Chinese companies operate in accordance with the law and strictly follow local laws and regulations when operating overseas.
The Trump administration has accused several major Chinese companies of operating as arms of the Chinese state. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has described such companies as "Trojan horses," by which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its intelligence apparatus can obtain sensitive American data or industrial technology.
Prominent examples of the Trump administration's effort to sideline such companies are its offensive against the Huawei telecommunications giant, and its push to force the Chinese ByteDance developer to sell its TikTok app.
On Sunday, China's state-media owned China Daily newspaper said America's industrial policy towards China under Trump had been part of the administration's "scaremongering," and likened Pompeo to an "annoying alarm clock has awakened China."
The list seen by Reuters is part of a draft identifying a series of Chinese and Russian companies as "military end users." This will mean that U.S. suppliers must obtain special licenses to sell to them. According to Reuters, these licenses are more often denied than granted.
Among the companies on list is the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), which competes with the Boeing and Airbus aerospace giants. The company has collaborated with Boeing and the Canadian Bombardier corporations to develop commercial aircraft.
Another is the Aviation Industry Corp. of China, a state-owned conglomerate with more than 100 subsidiaries and more than 450,000 employees. In June, the White House put AVIC on a list of firms it said were controlled or owned by the PLA. AVIC is a shareholder in COMAC.
Bloomberg reported that General Electric could be one of the big losers if the new list is published. The corporation is a COMAC supplier and is collaborating with the French Safran SA company on new engines for COMAC's C919 narrow-body plane.
A recent Boeing analysis of the Chinese commercial aviation market predicted the nation's airlines would purchase some 8,600 new planes over the next 20 years for a total of $1.4 trillion. The White House's new designation of China's major aviation firms could block American companies from some of those profits.


newsweek--2020-11-23--Trump and McConnell Have Two Months to Cement Their Judicial Legacy | Opinion

Confirming Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court so close to the election , thus depriving Joe Biden of the chance to fill that seat , seems not to have hurt Republicans .
It 's doubtful that any would-be Trump voters broke the other way due to that power play and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 's well-oiled confirmation machine likely netted votes for the GOP down-ballot .
Indeed , replacing the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg with one of the rising stars of the conservative legal movement—the biggest jurisprudential shift since Clarence Thomas succeeded Thurgood Marshall in 1991—is a high-profile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : judicial nominations .
Legislation can sunset , regulations can be rescinded and agency guidance is n't worth the pixels it 's typed on , but judges are for life , continuing to affect our world long after the president who appointed them has departed the White House .
Justice Ginsburg served nearly 30 years on the High Court , giving President Clinton 's legal-policy agenda a bridge well into the 21st century .
Thanks to the system put in place by Trump 's first White House counsel Don McGahn and the unrelenting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very much his legacy too—this administration has exceeded all expectations in finding committed and youthful originalists and textualists and getting them into black robes .
In the circuit courts of appeal , where the buck stops in all but 60-70 cases each year , Trump got a record 30 judges confirmed in his first two years and 53 overall , more than anyone in a single term except Jimmy Carter , for whom Congress created many new judgeships to fill .
Put another way , when Obama left office , nine of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judges appointed by Democratic presidents .
Now seven have a majority appointed by Republican presidents and even the Ninth Circuit , long the poster child of progressive jurisprudence—for historical , not geographic reasons ; see those Carter judges—close to equipoise .
As Trump 's total number of confirmed Article III judges ( Supreme Court , circuit courts , district courts and the Court of International Trade ) approaches 230 , now is no time to take the foot off the gas .
With nothing else to do in the lame-duck Senate , McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` leave no vacancies behind . ''
And those judicial vacancies are melting away .
On Inauguration Day 2017 , there were 105 open slots , which grew to more than 150 before a tweak in Senate rules—reducing the floor time required to `` debate '' nominations—sped up the process .
There are now about 50 , with nominees pending for more than half .
Almost all the rest are district judges in states like California and Washington , where Democratic senators have refused to make any deal , preferring that their courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any say in their judges .
Overall , Trump has now appointed more than a quarter of the federal judiciary , and this impact is particularly felt in the circuit courts .
With two more circuit judges , Trump would tie Obama 's two-term output .
Coincidentally , there are currently two circuit vacancies ( and nominees for them ) , while another judge just announced that he 's taking senior status at the end of the month .
Lame-duck confirmations are hardly unprecedented .
John Adams famously appointed John Marshall—the `` Great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 1800 election .
More recently , President Carter nominated Stephen Breyer ( now the oldest justice ) to the First Circuit on November 13 , 1980 , after losing his reelection bid to Ronald Reagan .
Ted Kennedy , then chairman of the judiciary committee , muscled his longtime counsel through the Senate less than a month later .
The Breyer example , plus others in the district courts , also undermines the idea that a `` Thurmond Rule '' ends confirmations about midway through presidential election years .
Although Senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to block LBJ 's proposed elevation of Justice Abe Fortas in 1968 , he later held hearings and confirmed nominees deep into 1984 .
A 2012 Brookings Institution report showed that confirmations have not historically stopped in the final year of a presidential term , though they do slow down ( as they have this year ) .
The Congressional Research Service in 2008 likewise found no `` consistently observed date or point in time after which the Senate ceased processing district and circuit nominations during the presidential election years from 1980 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sounds like the debate over filling Supreme Court vacancies arising in election years , that 's because it is : as with Supreme Court nominations , the result depends almost entirely on whether the Senate is controlled by the president 's party .
McConnell has told the Biden transition team that he 'll work with them on centrist executive branch nominees but no `` radical progressives '' or nominees who are controversial among conservatives .
And the same will go for judges , assuming that Republicans maintain control of the Senate after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , McConnell has to keep doing what the people elected ( and just reelected ) him to do , and what people most appreciate about the expiring Trump presidency .
Ilya Shapiro is director of the Robert A .
Levy Center for Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute and author of Supreme Disorder : Judicial Nominations and the Politics of America 's Highest Court .
Follow him on twitter , @ ishapiro .
The views expressed in this article are the writer 's own .

Confirming Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court so close to the election, thus depriving Joe Biden of the chance to fill that seat, seems not to have hurt Republicans. It's doubtful that any would-be Trump voters broke the other way due to that power play and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's well-oiled confirmation machine likely netted votes for the GOP down-ballot.
Indeed, replacing the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg with one of the rising stars of the conservative legal movement—the biggest jurisprudential shift since Clarence Thomas succeeded Thurgood Marshall in 1991—is a high-profile example of President Trump's biggest success: judicial nominations. Legislation can sunset, regulations can be rescinded and agency guidance isn't worth the pixels it's typed on, but judges are for life, continuing to affect our world long after the president who appointed them has departed the White House. Justice Ginsburg served nearly 30 years on the High Court, giving President Clinton's legal-policy agenda a bridge well into the 21st century.
Thanks to the system put in place by Trump's first White House counsel Don McGahn and the unrelenting tenaciousness of McConnell—who recognizes that this is very much his legacy too—this administration has exceeded all expectations in finding committed and youthful originalists and textualists and getting them into black robes. In the circuit courts of appeal, where the buck stops in all but 60-70 cases each year, Trump got a record 30 judges confirmed in his first two years and 53 overall, more than anyone in a single term except Jimmy Carter, for whom Congress created many new judgeships to fill.
Put another way, when Obama left office, nine of the 13 federal circuits had a majority of judges appointed by Democratic presidents. Now seven have a majority appointed by Republican presidents and even the Ninth Circuit, long the poster child of progressive jurisprudence—for historical, not geographic reasons; see those Carter judges—close to equipoise.
As Trump's total number of confirmed Article III judges (Supreme Court, circuit courts, district courts and the Court of International Trade) approaches 230, now is no time to take the foot off the gas. With nothing else to do in the lame-duck Senate, McConnell should take his own earlier advice and "leave no vacancies behind."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks to the media after the weekly policy luncheons at the US Capitol on November 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. Tasos Katopodis/Getty
And those judicial vacancies are melting away. On Inauguration Day 2017, there were 105 open slots, which grew to more than 150 before a tweak in Senate rules—reducing the floor time required to "debate" nominations—sped up the process. There are now about 50, with nominees pending for more than half. Almost all the rest are district judges in states like California and Washington, where Democratic senators have refused to make any deal, preferring that their courts remain shorthanded rather than let Trump get any say in their judges.
Overall, Trump has now appointed more than a quarter of the federal judiciary, and this impact is particularly felt in the circuit courts. With two more circuit judges, Trump would tie Obama's two-term output. Coincidentally, there are currently two circuit vacancies (and nominees for them), while another judge just announced that he's taking senior status at the end of the month.
Lame-duck confirmations are hardly unprecedented. John Adams famously appointed John Marshall—the "Great Chief"—after losing to Thomas Jefferson in the 1800 election. More recently, President Carter nominated Stephen Breyer (now the oldest justice) to the First Circuit on November 13, 1980, after losing his reelection bid to Ronald Reagan. Ted Kennedy, then chairman of the judiciary committee, muscled his longtime counsel through the Senate less than a month later.
The Breyer example, plus others in the district courts, also undermines the idea that a "Thurmond Rule" ends confirmations about midway through presidential election years. Although Senator Strom Thurmond did lead the successful bipartisan effort to block LBJ's proposed elevation of Justice Abe Fortas in 1968, he later held hearings and confirmed nominees deep into 1984.
A 2012 Brookings Institution report showed that confirmations have not historically stopped in the final year of a presidential term, though they do slow down (as they have this year). The Congressional Research Service in 2008 likewise found no "consistently observed date or point in time after which the Senate ceased processing district and circuit nominations during the presidential election years from 1980 to 2004." If all this sounds like the debate over filling Supreme Court vacancies arising in election years, that's because it is: as with Supreme Court nominations, the result depends almost entirely on whether the Senate is controlled by the president's party.
McConnell has told the Biden transition team that he'll work with them on centrist executive branch nominees but no "radical progressives" or nominees who are controversial among conservatives. And the same will go for judges, assuming that Republicans maintain control of the Senate after the Georgia runoffs. But in the meantime, McConnell has to keep doing what the people elected (and just reelected) him to do, and what people most appreciate about the expiring Trump presidency.
Ilya Shapiro is director of the Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute and author of Supreme Disorder: Judicial Nominations and the Politics of America's Highest Court. Follow him on twitter, @ishapiro.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


newsweek--2020-11-23--Grandson Drags Highly Venomous Snake from Grandma's Home by Its Tail

An Australian snake catcher who removed a deadly eastern brown snake from a home on Sunday has advised local residents against taking encounters into their own hands , warning one wrong move could have serious consequences .
Stuart McKenzie , from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 , was called to a property in the town of Buderim after a woman 's grandson grabbed the venomous snake by the tail and dragged it outside as it attempted to enter her garage , 9News reported .
Arriving at the scene , McKenzie found the snake had moved to under a rock .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sight in the region and expressed shock at its length .
`` Wow , look at the size of this thing , '' McKenzie was heard saying in a video showing the encounter .
`` In Buderim of all places !
That is a five foot eastern brown snake . ''
He was able to use a set of specialized tongs to capture the reptile and relocate it .
According to a species profile from the Australian Museum , brown snakes are known to prefer open landscapes such as woodlands , scrublands and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very often we get eastern brown snakes in Buderim , in fact I believe I have only caught four or five in about seven years , '' McKenzie said .
`` This snake was far from the centre of town but even so all it wanted to do was hide away from humans . ''
The veteran snake catcher said the eastern brown had been `` pretty chilled for the most part '' but warned that attempting to remove the snake can be very dangerous .
`` Even if a snake is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't ever try and catch or grab the snake yourself , it can potentially end very badly .
The best thing to do is back away and call us to come and relocate it .
Luckily the guy did n't get bitten and when he let the snake go it sheltered under a rock in the front garden , '' he wrote .
A description of the species on the Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 website warns the eastern brown is documented as the second most toxic land snake in the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bite from the species can result in death .
The dangers were broadly echoed by the Australian Museum , which said it poses a real threat to humans despite often choosing to flee if approached from a distance .
However , the species has been known to act defensively if surprised or caught off guard .
`` The venom contains powerful presynaptic neurotoxins , procoagulants , cardiotoxins and nephrotoxins , and successful envenomation can result in progressive paralysis and uncontrollable bleeding .
Occasional fatalities have occurred as a result of bleeding into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the museum says on its website .
The eastern brown snake has the `` unfortunate distinction of causing more deaths from snake bite than any other species of snake in Australia , '' the species profile adds .

An Australian snake catcher who removed a deadly eastern brown snake from a home on Sunday has advised local residents against taking encounters into their own hands, warning one wrong move could have serious consequences.
Stuart McKenzie, from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7, was called to a property in the town of Buderim after a woman's grandson grabbed the venomous snake by the tail and dragged it outside as it attempted to enter her garage, 9News reported.
Arriving at the scene, McKenzie found the snake had moved to under a rock. He said it was a relatively rare sight in the region and expressed shock at its length.
"Wow, look at the size of this thing," McKenzie was heard saying in a video showing the encounter. "In Buderim of all places! That is a five foot eastern brown snake." He was able to use a set of specialized tongs to capture the reptile and relocate it.
According to a species profile from the Australian Museum, brown snakes are known to prefer open landscapes such as woodlands, scrublands and grasslands.
"Now it's not very often we get eastern brown snakes in Buderim, in fact I believe I have only caught four or five in about seven years," McKenzie said. "This snake was far from the centre of town but even so all it wanted to do was hide away from humans."
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The veteran snake catcher said the eastern brown had been "pretty chilled for the most part" but warned that attempting to remove the snake can be very dangerous.
"Even if a snake is going inside your home or garage please don't ever try and catch or grab the snake yourself, it can potentially end very badly. The best thing to do is back away and call us to come and relocate it. Luckily the guy didn't get bitten and when he let the snake go it sheltered under a rock in the front garden," he wrote.
A description of the species on the Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 website warns the eastern brown is documented as the second most toxic land snake in the world. If not treated correctly and urgently, a bite from the species can result in death.
The dangers were broadly echoed by the Australian Museum, which said it poses a real threat to humans despite often choosing to flee if approached from a distance. However, the species has been known to act defensively if surprised or caught off guard.
"The venom contains powerful presynaptic neurotoxins, procoagulants, cardiotoxins and nephrotoxins, and successful envenomation can result in progressive paralysis and uncontrollable bleeding. Occasional fatalities have occurred as a result of bleeding into the brain due to coagulation disturbances," the museum says on its website.
The eastern brown snake has the "unfortunate distinction of causing more deaths from snake bite than any other species of snake in Australia," the species profile adds.


newsweek--2020-11-23--'I'm Kinda Dumb': Proud Boys Supporter's Honest Interview Answers Go Viral

A video has emerged of a Proud Boys follower describing that he is `` kinda dumb '' and too `` stuck in his ways '' to change when questioned about his views at a protest by the far-right group .
The clip was posted by activist Vixxy Vyohr , who was covering a demonstration by the Proud Boys in Denver , Colorado on Saturday , November 21 , which was backing the baseless claims that Donald Trump lost the election to Joe Biden because of widespread voter fraud .
In the footage , the man , who hides his face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a 17-year-old that he is `` kinda dumb '' and does n't `` really research much '' and instead lives `` by the kneejerk . ''
`` I just think and move like a f*****g dog , '' he adds .
When the offscreen 17-year-old disputes the man 's claims that he is dumb and assures him that he can change , the man replies that he is 43 and `` stuck in his ways . ''
When the teenager once again tells the Proud Boys supporter to stop thinking he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and adds : `` For what it 's worth , I do n't want this to be the way it is . ''
Vyohr tweeted the video out while describing how the man 's words were `` important in terms of conversations surrounding deradicalization and working class unity . ''
The video has been widely shared and viewed tens of thousands of times on social media .
Another clip of the interview taken from a different angle shows that the pair were discussing the death of Elijah McClain , the 23-year-old Black man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chokehold by three white officers in Aurora , Colorado in August 24 , 2019 .
The Proud Boys protest coincided with a demonstration from people demanding justice and accountability for the death of McClain .
The 17-year-old interviewer asks hypothetically what the man would do if he saw police officers kneeling on her neck and how he would feel if she died as a result .
The man said he would be sad her and her family , before admitting he does feel sad for the families of the Black people who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Proud Boys supporter then makes the claim that he is `` kinda dumb '' and that he does not fully research such topics .
Elsewhere , the man describes that he is wearing a `` Right Wing Death Squad '' badge while attending the protest because it is an `` internal meme . ''
The man is also asked about Kyle Chapman , the white nationalist who recently announced he would be forming a breakaway group called `` Proud Goys '' to address the `` failures of multiculturalism '' which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'undesirables ' into our ranks '' after falling out with leaders of the Proud Boys .
The Proud Boys supporter dismissed suggestions that Chapman is the group 's leader while referring to him as a `` f*****g f****t '' before apologizing for the homophobic slur .
`` He 's a racist Nazi , straight up , '' he adds .
The man is then questioned how he can think Chapman is a racist despite previously declaring that he does n't believe racism exists .
`` I do n't believe that there 's actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he adds .

A video has emerged of a Proud Boys follower describing that he is "kinda dumb" and too "stuck in his ways" to change when questioned about his views at a protest by the far-right group.
The clip was posted by activist Vixxy Vyohr, who was covering a demonstration by the Proud Boys in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, November 21, which was backing the baseless claims that Donald Trump lost the election to Joe Biden because of widespread voter fraud.
In the footage, the man, who hides his face with a Proud Boys mask, describes to a 17-year-old that he is "kinda dumb" and doesn't "really research much" and instead lives "by the kneejerk."
"I just think and move like a f*****g dog," he adds.
When the offscreen 17-year-old disputes the man's claims that he is dumb and assures him that he can change, the man replies that he is 43 and "stuck in his ways."
When the teenager once again tells the Proud Boys supporter to stop thinking he is not smart, the man thanks her and adds: "For what it's worth, I don't want this to be the way it is."
Vyohr tweeted the video out while describing how the man's words were "important in terms of conversations surrounding deradicalization and working class unity."
The video has been widely shared and viewed tens of thousands of times on social media.
This will be my last clip and I think it's one of the most poignant of the day. The Proud Boy both sums up the reactionary mindset of the average American in 2020 and have what seems to be a moment of genuine reflection while talking to a young protester. #denverprotest pic.twitter.com/aF1pOTAhCT — Vixxy Vyohr (@AnarchoFoxx) November 22, 2020
Another clip of the interview taken from a different angle shows that the pair were discussing the death of Elijah McClain, the 23-year-old Black man who died after being put into a chokehold by three white officers in Aurora, Colorado in August 24, 2019.
The Proud Boys protest coincided with a demonstration from people demanding justice and accountability for the death of McClain.
The 17-year-old interviewer asks hypothetically what the man would do if he saw police officers kneeling on her neck and how he would feel if she died as a result.
The man said he would be sad her and her family, before admitting he does feel sad for the families of the Black people who have died as the result of police brutality. The Proud Boys supporter then makes the claim that he is "kinda dumb" and that he does not fully research such topics.
Elsewhere, the man describes that he is wearing a "Right Wing Death Squad" badge while attending the protest because it is an "internal meme."
The man is also asked about Kyle Chapman, the white nationalist who recently announced he would be forming a breakaway group called "Proud Goys" to address the "failures of multiculturalism" which will "no longer allow homosexuals or other 'undesirables' into our ranks" after falling out with leaders of the Proud Boys.
The Proud Boys supporter dismissed suggestions that Chapman is the group's leader while referring to him as a "f*****g f****t" before apologizing for the homophobic slur.
"He's a racist Nazi, straight up," he adds. The man is then questioned how he can think Chapman is a racist despite previously declaring that he doesn't believe racism exists.
"I don't believe that there's actually hundreds of people who hate Black people," he adds.


newsweek--2020-11-23--Woman 'Mauled by Police Dog at Illegal Rave' Suffers Life-Changing Injuries

A woman says she has been left with life-changing injuries after being mauled by a police dog at an illegal rave .
Jessica Mae Andrew , 28 , says she was left screaming in pain and now requires skin and muscle grafts to her leg after being attacked by the dog at an illegal rave in Yate , Gloucestershire , on Halloween .
She told the Independent that she had been dancing when she was attacked by the dog without any warning at all .
Andrew said : `` After biting through my thigh , it let go then and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time biting my calf and foot where it did the most damage .
It bit through right to bone .
I had a gaping hole in my calf bigger than my fist – with the bone exposed .
`` The dog was totally out of control .
It was traumatizing .
It tore through my boots – it felt like it was on me for around three to four minutes . ''
She also says she has had to leave her home on a boat as she can no longer access it due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had arrived at the illegal rave which took place in a disused warehouse on Stover Trading Estate at 10.30 GMT on Saturday , October 31 .
The officers prevented hundreds of people from getting into the venue , however they said hundreds were already present .
Following the event , Avon and Somerset chief constable , Andy Marsh , said officers had faced `` significant violence '' and had bottles and fireworks launched at them .
During a Facebook Live video , he said : `` We attended the unlicensed music event in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There were already 250 to 300 people there .
`` We have many hours of body-worn video footage of the violence , threats and intimidation used towards police officers .
There were missiles thrown , bottles , punches , kicks , fireworks fired at officers .
All sorts of really significant violence . ''
Andrew is planning on taking action against the police following her injuries .
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson told Newsweek : `` We referred a dog bite incident involving a member of the public that occurred in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Independent Office for Police Conduct ( IOPC ) .
The IOPC adjudged the matter was suitable to be investigated locally by Avon and Somerset Police .
That process is ongoing and will include reviewing body-worn footage .
Our final report will be provided to the IOPC . ''

A woman says she has been left with life-changing injuries after being mauled by a police dog at an illegal rave.
Jessica Mae Andrew, 28, says she was left screaming in pain and now requires skin and muscle grafts to her leg after being attacked by the dog at an illegal rave in Yate, Gloucestershire, on Halloween. She told the Independent that she had been dancing when she was attacked by the dog without any warning at all.
Andrew said: "After biting through my thigh, it let go then and started to maul me again - this time biting my calf and foot where it did the most damage. It bit through right to bone. I had a gaping hole in my calf bigger than my fist – with the bone exposed.
"The dog was totally out of control. It was traumatizing. It tore through my boots – it felt like it was on me for around three to four minutes." She also says she has had to leave her home on a boat as she can no longer access it due to the injuries she suffered.
Police had arrived at the illegal rave which took place in a disused warehouse on Stover Trading Estate at 10.30 GMT on Saturday, October 31. The officers prevented hundreds of people from getting into the venue, however they said hundreds were already present.
The illegal rave took place on Halloween Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Following the event, Avon and Somerset chief constable, Andy Marsh, said officers had faced "significant violence" and had bottles and fireworks launched at them. During a Facebook Live video, he said: "We attended the unlicensed music event in Yate within 12 minutes of being called. There were already 250 to 300 people there.
"We have many hours of body-worn video footage of the violence, threats and intimidation used towards police officers. There were missiles thrown, bottles, punches, kicks, fireworks fired at officers. All sorts of really significant violence."
Andrew is planning on taking action against the police following her injuries. An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson told Newsweek: "We referred a dog bite incident involving a member of the public that occurred in Yate on Sunday 1 November to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The IOPC adjudged the matter was suitable to be investigated locally by Avon and Somerset Police. That process is ongoing and will include reviewing body-worn footage. Our final report will be provided to the IOPC."


newsweek--2020-11-23--El Paso Offers Morgue Workers $27 an Hour as Texas Region Overwhelmed by COVID Deaths

El Paso County leaders are recruiting extra morgue workers as the Texas region becomes increasingly overwhelmed by COVID-19 deaths .
The area has emerged a coronavirus hotspot with at least 855 people dying from the disease , including more than 300 since October , according to local government statistics .
On Friday , the Texas National Guard sent a 36-member team to the border region to help out in the overrun morgues .
The team were sent to replace jail inmates who had volunteered to move bodies , according to CNN .
Local leaders are now offering temporary morgue assistants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The job description reads : `` The Morgue Attendants will be provided maximum PPE [ personal protective equipment ] , and will receive a COVID test prior to starting . ''
The public notice continues : `` All Morgue Attendants will be tasked with physically moving Decedents [ ... ] Not only is this assignment physically taxing , but it may be emotionally taxing as well . ''
It comes as the number of statewide cases continues to soar .
The Texas health department announcing a daily record of new 12,597 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have died in the state after contracting coronavirus , and there have been more than 8,200 hospitalizations , since the pandemic began .
About 15 family members in Texas reportedly contracted the coronavirus after gathering for a birthday party earlier this month .
Texas could witness an escalation of the situation over the next few weeks with the state expecting a wave of Thanksgivings travelers , despite the Center for Disease Control and Prevention urging people to stay at home .
What local leaders have said In El Paso , County Judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greg Abbott on the weekend asking for his support to reimpose a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew in the county due to mortuaries being overwhelmed .
Samaniego wrote that the local medical examiner 's office said 247 bodies were being held at the main morgue and nine mobile morgues .
He said : `` With the upcoming Holiday season I am concerned that without some additional measures , we will continue in a downward spiral , therefore , I am once again seeking your assistance in this emergency situation .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited in nature and is designed to stem recreational and international traffic after 10:00 p.m. , '' he said .
A curfew had been imposed in the area from October 26 for two weeks .
An extension has not been confirmed by Abbott since Samaniego 's request .
After the National Guard was deployed , El Paso Mayor Dee Margo tweeted on Friday : `` As we 've seen a rapid increase in cases and hospitalizations , we are unfortunately also seeing a spike in deaths .
`` We have been working closely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with increased capacity and coordination of resources .
`` The Texas Military will provide us with the critical personnel to carry out our fatality management plan and we are very grateful to them for their ongoing support . ''
Margo said that El Paso city and county have secured a central morgue location to add additional capacity , but he would not reveal its exact location citing privacy concerns .
Samaniego also told KIVA how the National Guard would support morgue workers , saying : `` Right now they 're helping us with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are , trying to get some movement so we do n't have any backup . ''
`` We 've got a lot of loved ones waiting for relatives and moms and dads . ''
Newsweek has contacted the City of El Paso and El Paso county for comment .

El Paso County leaders are recruiting extra morgue workers as the Texas region becomes increasingly overwhelmed by COVID-19 deaths.
The area has emerged a coronavirus hotspot with at least 855 people dying from the disease, including more than 300 since October, according to local government statistics.
On Friday, the Texas National Guard sent a 36-member team to the border region to help out in the overrun morgues. The team were sent to replace jail inmates who had volunteered to move bodies, according to CNN.
Local leaders are now offering temporary morgue assistants a wage of $27.20 an hour.
A low-level inmate from El Paso County detention facility prepare to load bodies wrapped in plastic into a refrigerated temporary morgue trailer in a parking lot of the El Paso County Medical Examiner's office on November 16, 2020 in El Paso, Texas. Mario Tama/Getty Images
The job description reads: "The Morgue Attendants will be provided maximum PPE [personal protective equipment], and will receive a COVID test prior to starting."
The public notice continues: "All Morgue Attendants will be tasked with physically moving Decedents [...] Not only is this assignment physically taxing, but it may be emotionally taxing as well."
It comes as the number of statewide cases continues to soar. The Texas health department announcing a daily record of new 12,597 new cases on Saturday.
More than 20,500 people have died in the state after contracting coronavirus, and there have been more than 8,200 hospitalizations, since the pandemic began.
About 15 family members in Texas reportedly contracted the coronavirus after gathering for a birthday party earlier this month.
Texas could witness an escalation of the situation over the next few weeks with the state expecting a wave of Thanksgivings travelers, despite the Center for Disease Control and Prevention urging people to stay at home.
What local leaders have said
In El Paso, County Judge Ricardo Samaniego wrote to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on the weekend asking for his support to reimpose a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew in the county due to mortuaries being overwhelmed.
Samaniego wrote that the local medical examiner's office said 247 bodies were being held at the main morgue and nine mobile morgues.
Low-level inmates from El Paso County detention facility prepare to load bodies wrapped in plastic into a refrigerated temporary morgue trailer in a parking lot of the El Paso County Medical Examiner's office on November 16, 2020 in El Paso, Texas. Mario Tama/Getty Images
He said: "With the upcoming Holiday season I am concerned that without some additional measures, we will continue in a downward spiral, therefore, I am once again seeking your assistance in this emergency situation.
"The curfew I intend to impose will be limited in nature and is designed to stem recreational and international traffic after 10:00 p.m.," he said.
A curfew had been imposed in the area from October 26 for two weeks. An extension has not been confirmed by Abbott since Samaniego's request.
After the National Guard was deployed, El Paso Mayor Dee Margo tweeted on Friday: "As we've seen a rapid increase in cases and hospitalizations, we are unfortunately also seeing a spike in deaths.
1/ As we've seen a rapid increase in cases and hospitalizations, we are unfortunately also seeing a spike in deaths. We have been working closely with funeral homes and mortuaries to assist with increased capacity and coordination of resources. pic.twitter.com/qXfYdM5PWe — Mayor Dee Margo (@mayor_margo) November 21, 2020
"We have been working closely with funeral homes and mortuaries to assist with increased capacity and coordination of resources.
"The Texas Military will provide us with the critical personnel to carry out our fatality management plan and we are very grateful to them for their ongoing support."
Margo said that El Paso city and county have secured a central morgue location to add additional capacity, but he would not reveal its exact location citing privacy concerns.
Samaniego also told KIVA how the National Guard would support morgue workers, saying: "Right now they're helping us with the overflow of transporting where the trailers are, trying to get some movement so we don't have any backup."
"We've got a lot of loved ones waiting for relatives and moms and dads."
Newsweek has contacted the City of El Paso and El Paso county for comment.


newsweek--2020-11-23--'The Undoing' on HBO: Did Henry Really Kill Elena?

The Undoing has only one episode left , where we are sure to find out who killed Elena ( played by Matilda De Angelis ) with that sculpting hammer .
Episode 5 of the HBO show ended with the revelation that that hammer was in the possession of Henry ( Noah Jupe ) , the son of the man currently on trial for Elena 's murder , Jonathan ( Hugh Grant ) .
Could this be a red herring , or is the show finally revealing to us exactly what happened that night ?
In our guide to all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included Henry not because there was any particular motive or hints that he had done it , but because he was exactly the sort of character that shows like this love to reveal as the twist culprit in the last act .
In a way , he is this show 's Maggie Simpson , who as '90s kids will remember was revealed to have been the one who shot Mr Burns in The Simpsons .
Like Maggie , Henry has basically been hiding in plain sight throughout The Undoing – he has featured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to see Elena dead , but we are not led to suspect him because he is a child and his parents are up to far shadier stuff .
Now that the series has pulled off the reveal of the hammer in his violin case , some earlier clues and editing tricks may be illuminating .
For example , there is the moment in Episode 4 where he apologised to Elena 's son Miguel ( Edan Alexander ) .
Ostensibly , this was because he had accidentally shoved him , but could this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offsetting some of the guilt he felt over what he had done ?
Then in Episode 5 , which began by replaying Jonathan 's admission to Connie Chung that he knew who killed Elena , the first person the show cut to after he said that was Henry .
This is exactly the kind of trick shows love to play for re-watchers to pick up on the second time around .
Though Henry does not have as much of a motive as his parents , it is possible to see how he could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Episode 5 for his parents to get back together , for example , could have been put in there to show that he will do anything to get them reunite—including kill the woman his father is having an affair with .
That 's a pretty extreme reaction to be sure , but as the end of the episode shows , sociopathy might run a little in the family .
Even The Undoing Episode 6 synopsis could hint that Henry did it and that Grace is covering it up when it says , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ethical tightrope in her defense strategy , and as the courtroom theater mounts , Grace takes measures to protect herself and her family . ''
Of course , it is possible ( even likely ) that this reveal is one final red herring , and the killer is still to be revealed .
In the book The Undoing is based on , Jonathan is the killer the whole time , and things are much more about Henry 's mom Grace 's ( Nicole Kidman ) life unravelling .
If the series takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's actions could be explained as him hiding the hammer so the police can not prove his father did it .
However , that raises the question of exactly where he found the murder weapon .
However , this could still mean that when all is said and done , the real twist of The Undoing is that there is no twist , and Jonathan really did kill her all along .
The Undoing concludes on Sunday , November 29 at 9 p.m. on HBO .

The Undoing has only one episode left, where we are sure to find out who killed Elena (played by Matilda De Angelis) with that sculpting hammer. Episode 5 of the HBO show ended with the revelation that that hammer was in the possession of Henry (Noah Jupe), the son of the man currently on trial for Elena's murder, Jonathan (Hugh Grant). Could this be a red herring, or is the show finally revealing to us exactly what happened that night?
In our guide to all the suspects in Elena's murder, we included Henry not because there was any particular motive or hints that he had done it, but because he was exactly the sort of character that shows like this love to reveal as the twist culprit in the last act. In a way, he is this show's Maggie Simpson, who as '90s kids will remember was revealed to have been the one who shot Mr Burns in The Simpsons.
Like Maggie, Henry has basically been hiding in plain sight throughout The Undoing – he has featured in every episode and has reasons to want to see Elena dead, but we are not led to suspect him because he is a child and his parents are up to far shadier stuff.
Now that the series has pulled off the reveal of the hammer in his violin case, some earlier clues and editing tricks may be illuminating.
Noah Jupe as Henry in 'The Undoing'. HBO
For example, there is the moment in Episode 4 where he apologised to Elena's son Miguel (Edan Alexander). Ostensibly, this was because he had accidentally shoved him, but could this have been a way of him psychologically offsetting some of the guilt he felt over what he had done? Then in Episode 5, which began by replaying Jonathan's admission to Connie Chung that he knew who killed Elena, the first person the show cut to after he said that was Henry. This is exactly the kind of trick shows love to play for re-watchers to pick up on the second time around.
Though Henry does not have as much of a motive as his parents, it is possible to see how he could have done it. His desperation in Episode 5 for his parents to get back together, for example, could have been put in there to show that he will do anything to get them reunite—including kill the woman his father is having an affair with. That's a pretty extreme reaction to be sure, but as the end of the episode shows, sociopathy might run a little in the family.
Even The Undoing Episode 6 synopsis could hint that Henry did it and that Grace is covering it up when it says, "in the series finale, Haley walks an ethical tightrope in her defense strategy, and as the courtroom theater mounts, Grace takes measures to protect herself and her family."
Of course, it is possible (even likely) that this reveal is one final red herring, and the killer is still to be revealed. In the book The Undoing is based on, Jonathan is the killer the whole time, and things are much more about Henry's mom Grace's (Nicole Kidman) life unravelling. If the series takes a leaf from the book, Henry's actions could be explained as him hiding the hammer so the police cannot prove his father did it. However, that raises the question of exactly where he found the murder weapon.
However, this could still mean that when all is said and done, the real twist of The Undoing is that there is no twist, and Jonathan really did kill her all along.
The Undoing concludes on Sunday, November 29 at 9 p.m. on HBO.


newsweek--2020-11-23--The Coalition That Trump Built | Opinion

Eight years ago , members of the GOP establishment wrote a post-election `` autopsy '' arguing that the only way to recover from Mitt Romney 's miserable 2012 performance would be to expand the Republican coalition—specifically , by making inroads among Latinos and the working class .
This was quite obviously true—and Donald Trump made it happen in 2016 to the tune of 63 million votes , and then again in 2020 with 74 million votes .
But while Trump accomplished the autopsy 's goal of expanding the electorate , he did it by largely rejecting its proposed solutions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ryan economics , Trump ran against `` globalism '' and `` bad trade deals . ''
Instead of abandoning social issues , Trump signed an anti-porn pledge , promised to sign a religious freedom bill and explicitly declared that he would nominate pro-life judges .
And on immigration ?
After Romney 's historically awful performance with Latinos , the autopsy argued that amnesty for illegal immigrants was the way to Latino voters ' hearts .
Trump completely repudiated that by calling for a `` big , beautiful wall . ''
Trump bested Romney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , and then improved on his own performance by several percentage points in 2020 .
Do n't blame the authors of the autopsy for getting it wrong .
Some folks are n't very good at building things .
But Trump happens to be a great builder , and The Coalition That Trump Built is here to stay—multiracial , working-class and growing in number by the election .
It 's only in the rarefied air of academia or TV punditry that people can still cling to the old notion that the Republicans are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anyone living in the real world can see that it just is n't true any longer .
Ask David Shor , a Democratic data expert and Obama 2012 alum .
He told Politico recently : `` The joke is that the GOP is really assembling the multiracial working-class coalition that the Left has always dreamed of . ''
Part of building something new is undergoing a process of creative destruction .
And there 's no question that Trump 's arrival coincided with many elites leaving the Republican Party .
Just think of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
Think of all the mega-corporations .
Think of all the anti-Trump TV pundits , think tankers , academics and politicians .
They 're not exactly fans of Donald Trump—or conservatism .
They 've left to join the Left .
But in losing the smug sophisticates , the GOP created room for the more numerous working-class voters who are finally coming home to the Republican Party .
That 's a trade offer conservatives should be happy to accept .
The pundits were right—demographics are destiny—but they 've been focused on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race .
It 's about class .
A multiracial , working-class coalition , properly cultivated , will always and everywhere beat an elite-class coalition .
Why ?
Because of the numbers .
There are far more working-class Americans than there are elites .
This political realignment is evident from county-level election results , too .
Loudoun County , Virginia—the wealthiest in the country , as of 2018—voted for Bush by 12 points in 2004 .
In 2012 , it voted for Obama by a five-point margin .
In 2020 , the margin for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whole , the margin of victory for Democrats in the 100 richest counties in America has grown by about 10 points since 2012 .
In exit polls , Romney won voters making more than $ 100,000 a year by 10 points , while in 2020 these voters went for Biden by four points—a 14-point swing .
Meanwhile , since 2012 , voters making less than $ 50,000 have swung toward Republicans by the same margin—14 points .
The nation 's 100 poorest counties , which voted for Obama in 2012 by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealthiest , have swung about 16 points in the opposite direction ; this year , they cumulatively voted for Trump .
The Republican coalition under Trump has grown more diverse too .
Trump was propelled to victory in Florida this year in part due to huge gains among Hispanic precincts in Miami-Dade County .
Or look at Starr County , Texas , the most Hispanic county in the country and also one of the poorest .
In 2012 , Obama beat Romney in Starr County 86 to 13 ; Trump closed the gap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge lies ahead , of course .
The realignment is not finished .
Republicans are increasingly a multiracial , working-class party , representing the socially conservative and economically populist quadrant of the political map .
But do they know it ?
Can establishment Republicans be convinced to deny their reflexive pro-corporate , pro-Big Tech , pro-academia instincts and instead represent the interests of a newly-configured GOP base ?
Republicans have lost the elites under Trump , and they 're not coming back .
Now it 's time to adapt .
Trump has already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
The next four years should be about doing everything possible to solidify those gains and expand them .
Jon Schweppe is the director of policy and government affairs at American Principles Project .
He is also a 2020 alumnus of the Claremont Institute 's Lincoln Fellowship .
Follow him on Twitter : @ JonSchweppe .
The views expressed in this article are the writer 's own .

Eight years ago, members of the GOP establishment wrote a post-election "autopsy" arguing that the only way to recover from Mitt Romney's miserable 2012 performance would be to expand the Republican coalition—specifically, by making inroads among Latinos and the working class. This was quite obviously true—and Donald Trump made it happen in 2016 to the tune of 63 million votes, and then again in 2020 with 74 million votes.
But while Trump accomplished the autopsy's goal of expanding the electorate, he did it by largely rejecting its proposed solutions. Rather than double down on Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan economics, Trump ran against "globalism" and "bad trade deals." Instead of abandoning social issues, Trump signed an anti-porn pledge, promised to sign a religious freedom bill and explicitly declared that he would nominate pro-life judges.
And on immigration? After Romney's historically awful performance with Latinos, the autopsy argued that amnesty for illegal immigrants was the way to Latino voters' hearts. Trump completely repudiated that by calling for a "big, beautiful wall." Trump bested Romney's share of the Latino vote in 2016, and then improved on his own performance by several percentage points in 2020.
Don't blame the authors of the autopsy for getting it wrong. Some folks aren't very good at building things. But Trump happens to be a great builder, and The Coalition That Trump Built is here to stay—multiracial, working-class and growing in number by the election. It's only in the rarefied air of academia or TV punditry that people can still cling to the old notion that the Republicans are the party of the wealthy elite. Anyone living in the real world can see that it just isn't true any longer.
Ask David Shor, a Democratic data expert and Obama 2012 alum. He told Politico recently: "The joke is that the GOP is really assembling the multiracial working-class coalition that the Left has always dreamed of."
Part of building something new is undergoing a process of creative destruction. And there's no question that Trump's arrival coincided with many elites leaving the Republican Party. Just think of all the most famous millionaires and billionaires in the country. Think of all the mega-corporations. Think of all the anti-Trump TV pundits, think tankers, academics and politicians. They're not exactly fans of Donald Trump—or conservatism. They've left to join the Left.
But in losing the smug sophisticates, the GOP created room for the more numerous working-class voters who are finally coming home to the Republican Party. That's a trade offer conservatives should be happy to accept. The pundits were right—demographics are destiny—but they've been focused on the wrong demographics. It's not about race. It's about class. A multiracial, working-class coalition, properly cultivated, will always and everywhere beat an elite-class coalition. Why? Because of the numbers. There are far more working-class Americans than there are elites.
President Trump campaigning in Michigan during the 2020 presidential election Kamil Krzaczynski/Getty Images
This political realignment is evident from county-level election results, too. Loudoun County, Virginia—the wealthiest in the country, as of 2018—voted for Bush by 12 points in 2004. In 2012, it voted for Obama by a five-point margin. In 2020, the margin for Joe Biden was 25 points. On the whole, the margin of victory for Democrats in the 100 richest counties in America has grown by about 10 points since 2012.
In exit polls, Romney won voters making more than $100,000 a year by 10 points, while in 2020 these voters went for Biden by four points—a 14-point swing. Meanwhile, since 2012, voters making less than $50,000 have swung toward Republicans by the same margin—14 points. The nation's 100 poorest counties, which voted for Obama in 2012 by a margin similar to that of the 100 wealthiest, have swung about 16 points in the opposite direction; this year, they cumulatively voted for Trump.
The Republican coalition under Trump has grown more diverse too. Trump was propelled to victory in Florida this year in part due to huge gains among Hispanic precincts in Miami-Dade County. Or look at Starr County, Texas, the most Hispanic county in the country and also one of the poorest. In 2012, Obama beat Romney in Starr County 86 to 13; Trump closed the gap to 52 to 47.
The toughest challenge lies ahead, of course. The realignment is not finished. Republicans are increasingly a multiracial, working-class party, representing the socially conservative and economically populist quadrant of the political map. But do they know it? Can establishment Republicans be convinced to deny their reflexive pro-corporate, pro-Big Tech, pro-academia instincts and instead represent the interests of a newly-configured GOP base?
Republicans have lost the elites under Trump, and they're not coming back. Now it's time to adapt. Trump has already made incredible gains among the rest of the country. The next four years should be about doing everything possible to solidify those gains and expand them.
Jon Schweppe is the director of policy and government affairs at American Principles Project. He is also a 2020 alumnus of the Claremont Institute's Lincoln Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter: @JonSchweppe.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


newsweek--2020-11-23--12-Year-Old Shot Dead Answering Knock at the Door in His Philadelphia Home

A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed while answering the door of his Philadelphia home on Sunday .
Sadeek Clark-Harrison died from a single shot to the head fired through a front-door window around 2:45 a.m. in the city 's Frankford neighborhood , police said .
Officers arrived within minutes of the shooting at the 5000 block of Ditman Street to find the boy , identified by family members as Clark-Harrison , bleeding from his mouth , Deputy Commissioner Melvin Singleton told reporters .
Clark-Harrison was at home with his grandmother and 10-year-old sister when there was a knock at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the intended target , the deputy commissioner said .
`` [ The shooter ] could not have had any idea of who is on the other side of that door , '' Singleton said .
`` All we know at this time is that there was a knock at the door .
No descriptions of any persons at the door .
One shot was fired .
We do have on the porch of the location one nine millimeter shell casing on the porch .
And that 's all we know at this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pronounced Clark-Harrison dead at the scene just after 3 a.m. His mother , Lisa Clark , now wants justice for her youngest son .
`` They took my baby away from me .
He was a good boy , '' she told ABC6 Action News .
`` That 's my king , my son , my star , my moon , my shine ... they took it away from me .
They dimmed the light on me when they took my son away from me . ''
Clark also claimed the shooter called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I 'm disgusted that someone would come to my door , late at night , and shoot him , '' she told NBC10 Philadelphia .
`` They were knocking on his door and calling his name , 'Sadeek !
Sadeek ! '
'' Alicia Johnson , the boy 's aunt , is also demanding answers and calling an end to gun violence in the city .
`` Our kids are dying out here .
They 're dying .
They are n't making it past 16 out here , '' she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home overnight as crying and sounds of anguish were heard throughout the early morning hours .
Investigators said the gunman ran from the scene but they hope to obtain surveillance video from nearby homes in order to find the killer .
No description of the shooter is available so far , but investigators were able to recover a shell casing from the porch .
The boy 's death marked the 437th homicide in Philadelphia this year .
Newsweek has contacted the Philadelphia Police Department for comment .
The tragedy comes after news that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missing from the Philadelphia Sheriff 's Department .
A total of 101 service firearms and 109 protection from abuse ( PFA ) weapons have disappeared from the Sheriff 's Office gun inventory since 2016 , with authorities scrambling to find the missing arms .
City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart led a year-long investigation into the case after receiving a tip regarding missing rifles and shotguns .
Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal said her office will work to locate the missing firearms and the investigation will continue to determine any possible criminal liability .

A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed while answering the door of his Philadelphia home on Sunday.
Sadeek Clark-Harrison died from a single shot to the head fired through a front-door window around 2:45 a.m. in the city's Frankford neighborhood, police said.
Officers arrived within minutes of the shooting at the 5000 block of Ditman Street to find the boy, identified by family members as Clark-Harrison, bleeding from his mouth, Deputy Commissioner Melvin Singleton told reporters.
Clark-Harrison was at home with his grandmother and 10-year-old sister when there was a knock at the door. None are believed to be the intended target, the deputy commissioner said.
"[The shooter] could not have had any idea of who is on the other side of that door," Singleton said.
"All we know at this time is that there was a knock at the door. No descriptions of any persons at the door. One shot was fired. We do have on the porch of the location one nine millimeter shell casing on the porch. And that's all we know at this particular point in time."
Paramedics pronounced Clark-Harrison dead at the scene just after 3 a.m.
His mother, Lisa Clark, now wants justice for her youngest son.
"They took my baby away from me. He was a good boy," she told ABC6 Action News. "That's my king, my son, my star, my moon, my shine... they took it away from me. They dimmed the light on me when they took my son away from me."
Clark also claimed the shooter called her son's name before the attack.
"I'm disgusted that someone would come to my door, late at night, and shoot him," she told NBC10 Philadelphia. "They were knocking on his door and calling his name, 'Sadeek! Sadeek!'"
Alicia Johnson, the boy's aunt, is also demanding answers and calling an end to gun violence in the city.
"Our kids are dying out here. They're dying. They aren't making it past 16 out here," she said.
Distraught family members gathered at the home overnight as crying and sounds of anguish were heard throughout the early morning hours.
Investigators said the gunman ran from the scene but they hope to obtain surveillance video from nearby homes in order to find the killer.
No description of the shooter is available so far, but investigators were able to recover a shell casing from the porch.
The boy's death marked the 437th homicide in Philadelphia this year. Newsweek has contacted the Philadelphia Police Department for comment.
The tragedy comes after news that more than 200 guns have reportedly gone missing from the Philadelphia Sheriff's Department.
A total of 101 service firearms and 109 protection from abuse (PFA) weapons have disappeared from the Sheriff's Office gun inventory since 2016, with authorities scrambling to find the missing arms.
City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart led a year-long investigation into the case after receiving a tip regarding missing rifles and shotguns.
Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal said her office will work to locate the missing firearms and the investigation will continue to determine any possible criminal liability.


newsweek--2020-11-23--California Gov. Newsom Self-isolating with Family after COVID Exposure

California Gov .
Gavin Newsom revealed via a series of tweets on Sunday night that he and his family were in quarantine , after being exposed to someone with COVID-19 .
`` Late Friday evening , @ JenSiebelNewsom and I learned that 3 of our children had been exposed to an officer from the California Highway Patrol who had tested positive for COVID-19 , '' read the tweet .
His tweets went into more detail that the Governor and his wife had not been in direct contact with the individual reported to have coronavirus , but were self-isolating for 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I had no direct interaction with the officer and wish them a speedy recovery , '' wrote Gov .
Newsom .
The entire family has taken coronavirus tests , all of which have come back negative .
The family will be tested regularly , and monitor their symptoms .
The Governor thanked those who put themselves at risk on a daily basis during the global health crisis .
`` We are grateful for all the officers that keep our family safe and for every frontline worker who continues to go to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a possible COVID-19 exposure comes a few days after one of Gov .
Newsom 's children began quarantining after a potential exposure at their private school , where a classmate had tested positive for the disease .
The child had already started self-isolating before the rest of the family .
In California , residents are required to wear a face mask in public spaces .
`` We 're seeing too many people with faces uncovered .
Wearing a face covering is critical for keeping people safe and healthy , keeping businesses open and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your part .
Wear your mask , '' urged Newsom .
Certain parts of the state are under a curfew due to rising numbers of the disease .
Non-essential work and gatherings are banned from 10pm-5am in areas in the purple tier .
The purple tier includes places with more than seven coronavirus cases per 100,000 people a day and an average of eight per cent of people testing positive in a seven day period .
Purple tier areas currently include San Diego County , Orange County and Los Angeles , where many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The U.S has had more than 12.2 million confirmed cases of coronavirus , and is the country with the most recorded cases of the disease in the world .
Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna have both announced successful vaccine trials .
It 's hoped these vaccines will be widely available in spring .
Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , Dr. Anthony Fauci last week told Americans not to become complacent after the announcement of a vaccine .
`` We need to intensify common easy to do – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not shutting down the country , not shutting down the economy , '' he said to CNN .

California Gov. Gavin Newsom revealed via a series of tweets on Sunday night that he and his family were in quarantine, after being exposed to someone with COVID-19.
"Late Friday evening, @JenSiebelNewsom and I learned that 3 of our children had been exposed to an officer from the California Highway Patrol who had tested positive for COVID-19," read the tweet.
His tweets went into more detail that the Governor and his wife had not been in direct contact with the individual reported to have coronavirus, but were self-isolating for 14 days, as per local advice.
"I had no direct interaction with the officer and wish them a speedy recovery," wrote Gov. Newsom.
The entire family has taken coronavirus tests, all of which have come back negative. The family will be tested regularly, and monitor their symptoms.
Governor Gavin Newsom is in quarantine with his family, after his children were exposed to someone with COVID-19. Stephen Lam/Getty Images
The Governor thanked those who put themselves at risk on a daily basis during the global health crisis.
"We are grateful for all the officers that keep our family safe and for every frontline worker who continues to go to work during this pandemic."
News of a possible COVID-19 exposure comes a few days after one of Gov. Newsom's children began quarantining after a potential exposure at their private school, where a classmate had tested positive for the disease. The child had already started self-isolating before the rest of the family.
In California, residents are required to wear a face mask in public spaces.
"We're seeing too many people with faces uncovered. Wearing a face covering is critical for keeping people safe and healthy, keeping businesses open and getting people back to work.
Do your part. Wear your mask," urged Newsom.
Certain parts of the state are under a curfew due to rising numbers of the disease. Non-essential work and gatherings are banned from 10pm-5am in areas in the purple tier. The purple tier includes places with more than seven coronavirus cases per 100,000 people a day and an average of eight per cent of people testing positive in a seven day period. Purple tier areas currently include San Diego County, Orange County and Los Angeles, where many non-essential indoor business operations are also closed.
The U.S has had more than 12.2 million confirmed cases of coronavirus, and is the country with the most recorded cases of the disease in the world.
Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna have both announced successful vaccine trials. It's hoped these vaccines will be widely available in spring.
Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci last week told Americans not to become complacent after the announcement of a vaccine. "We need to intensify common easy to do – relatively speaking – public health measures that are not shutting down the country, not shutting down the economy," he said to CNN.


newsweek--2020-11-23--Michigan County Board Supports Impeaching Democratic Governor Whitmer

Members of the Kalkaska County , Michigan Board of Commissioners voted Friday to introduce a resolution that would call for the impeachment of Democratic state Governor Gretchen Whitmer .
Amid a surge of positive coronavirus cases in Michigan , Whitmer announced a round of coronavirus mitigation protocols .
Whitmer 's COVID-19 policies have been denounced by some members of the GOP as being too strict .
The Kalkaska County resolution is expected to be passed on to the state legislature .
Kalkaska County Commissioner David Comai said Friday that executive orders signed by Whitmer were `` unconstitutional '' and `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kalkaska County is experiencing , '' according to reporting from WPBN/WGTU .
Calls for Whitmer 's impeachment have drawn both positive and negative responses from members of Michigan 's GOP .
Republican Matt Maddock of the Michigan House of Representatives thanked legislators who were involved .
`` Michiganders have been beaten down for too long , '' Maddock tweeted in November .
`` Restaurants losing dine-in customers watching their life 's work circle the drains .
Thank you to my fellow legislators who are calling for impeachment hearings of @ GovWhitmer # FreeMichigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Michigan Republican Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield criticized the resolution in a Wednesday statement .
`` We 're not the party that impeaches someone because we 're upset with policies that they 've enacted , '' Chatfield said .
`` I thought it was shameful what the Democrats did to President Trump last year and I would assume that any attempt by Republicans right now , with the current set of facts that we have to impeach the governor , would be on the same level . ''
Other Michigan residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from office .
A petition calling for Whitmer 's impeachment on Change.org has received over 7,800 signatures as of Monday .
The petition states that Whitmer 's refusal to allow doctors to use chloroquine as a coronavirus treatment made Whitmer `` more than incompetent , she is deadly and who knows how many lives have been lost due to her ignorance . ''
Newsweek reached out to Whitmer 's office for comment .
Data released by the State of Michigan on Monday showed a two-day increase of 11,511 new COVID-19 cases with 65 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time frame .
In total , Michigan has reported 314,216 positive coronavirus cases and 8,543 COVID-19 deaths since March .
Under the new restrictions , Michigan residents are required to work from home , if possible .
All college and high-school classes were expected to be remotely conducted .
Indoor dining was prohibited in bars and restaurants while movie theaters , casinos and stadiums remained closed .
The restrictions are expected to remain in place until December 8 .
During a November news briefing , Whitmer indicated more restrictions could be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate remains high .
`` My hope is that everyone makes smart choices to keep yourself and your loved ones and our frontline workers and our community safe , '' Whitmer said .
`` I hope they will double down so we can avoid a stay-home order . ''

Members of the Kalkaska County, Michigan Board of Commissioners voted Friday to introduce a resolution that would call for the impeachment of Democratic state Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Amid a surge of positive coronavirus cases in Michigan, Whitmer announced a round of coronavirus mitigation protocols. Whitmer's COVID-19 policies have been denounced by some members of the GOP as being too strict. The Kalkaska County resolution is expected to be passed on to the state legislature.
Kalkaska County Commissioner David Comai said Friday that executive orders signed by Whitmer were "unconstitutional" and "the primary cause of the economic crisis Kalkaska County is experiencing," according to reporting from WPBN/WGTU.
Calls for Whitmer's impeachment have drawn both positive and negative responses from members of Michigan's GOP. Republican Matt Maddock of the Michigan House of Representatives thanked legislators who were involved.
"Michiganders have been beaten down for too long," Maddock tweeted in November. "Restaurants losing dine-in customers watching their life's work circle the drains. Thank you to my fellow legislators who are calling for impeachment hearings of @GovWhitmer #FreeMichigan #ImpeachWhitmer #MILEG @realDonaldTrump."
Michiganders have been beaten down for too long. Restaurants losing dine-in customers watching their life’s work circle the drains. Thank you to my fellow legislators who are calling for impeachment hearings of @GovWhitmer #FreeMichigan #ImpeachWhitmer #MILEG @realDonaldTrump — Matt Maddock (@matthewmaddock) November 17, 2020
Michigan Republican Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield criticized the resolution in a Wednesday statement.
"We're not the party that impeaches someone because we're upset with policies that they've enacted," Chatfield said. "I thought it was shameful what the Democrats did to President Trump last year and I would assume that any attempt by Republicans right now, with the current set of facts that we have to impeach the governor, would be on the same level."
Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a set of stringent coronavirus restrictions in November hoping the reduce the rise in the state's positive cases of COVID-19. Drew Angerer/Getty
Other Michigan residents are calling for Whitmer to be removed from office. A petition calling for Whitmer's impeachment on Change.org has received over 7,800 signatures as of Monday. The petition states that Whitmer's refusal to allow doctors to use chloroquine as a coronavirus treatment made Whitmer "more than incompetent, she is deadly and who knows how many lives have been lost due to her ignorance."
Newsweek reached out to Whitmer's office for comment.
Data released by the State of Michigan on Monday showed a two-day increase of 11,511 new COVID-19 cases with 65 fatalities attributable to the disease over the same time frame. In total, Michigan has reported 314,216 positive coronavirus cases and 8,543 COVID-19 deaths since March.
Under the new restrictions, Michigan residents are required to work from home, if possible. All college and high-school classes were expected to be remotely conducted. Indoor dining was prohibited in bars and restaurants while movie theaters, casinos and stadiums remained closed. The restrictions are expected to remain in place until December 8.
During a November news briefing, Whitmer indicated more restrictions could be on the way if Michigan's coronavirus positivity rate remains high.
"My hope is that everyone makes smart choices to keep yourself and your loved ones and our frontline workers and our community safe," Whitmer said. "I hope they will double down so we can avoid a stay-home order."


newsweek--2020-11-23--Rush Limbaugh, Michigan, GSA Hammer Nails Into Coffin of Trump's Election Fraud Claims

Michigan 's Republican Officials resisted intense White House pressure to certify Joe Biden 's election victory on Monday while the Chief administrator of the executive branch finally relented and began the transition to the president elect .
Still , it was Rush Limbaugh who dealt the heaviest blow to President Donald Trump 's campaign to cast doubt on his election loss .
The terminally ill radio host became the most influential conservative to dismiss voter fraud claims that have routinely been thrown out of court .
`` They promised blockbuster stuff , and then nothing happened , '' Limbaugh said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just , that 's not—well , it 's not good . ''
The conservative radio kingpin , who had spent weeks aggressively echoing Trump 's claims of widespread voter fraud , lambasted the president for failing to deliver after hyping up `` massive bombshells '' at a press conference on November 19 .
`` There better be something other than what we got , '' he said .
Limbaugh 's rare remarks are notable , given that he has been one of Trump 's closest allies and public protectors over the past four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wept live on television when Trump used the State of the Union this year to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom , America 's highest civilian accolade .
The president 's decision to award the honor came after Limbaugh told his listeners he had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer .
Limbaugh 's grim news dealt a sobering blow to conservatives around the country .
Trump supporters—a group that accounts for nearly 74 million votes this year—and a number of other conservatives view him as a fearless truth-teller who is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of political correctness in his pursuit to stand up to the tyranny of the elite , the idiocies of big government and the out of touch left-wing academics and reporters .
On the other hand , his opponents have accused him of contributing to the country 's political polarization through the use of bigoted lies and `` alternative '' facts .
Hours after Limbaugh broke with Trump , GSA administrator Emily Murphy informed President-elect Joe Biden that the president 's administration was ready to formally start the transition process .
The letter sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media outlets declared him the winner of the 2020 election and was the first solid acknowledgement from the Trump administration of the president 's defeat .
Trump immediately thanked Murphy and affirmed the decision to begin the transition process .
But the president also vowed to continue his lawsuits filed in several swing states alleging widespread voter fraud and seeking to reverse his defeat .
`` We will keep up the good fight , and I believe we will prevail ! ''
he tweeted .
Despite Trump 's insistence that he 's merely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have interpreted his remarks as essentially close to a concession .
Around the same time on Monday afternoon , Michigan 's Board of State Canvassers officially certified Biden 's victory in the state , marking the final nail into the coffin of Trump 's election fraud claims and attempts to overturn the results .
The certification came after the Trump campaign dropped its remaining federal lawsuit in the Wolverine State .
In a statement emailed to Newsweek , Jenna Ellis , a senior legal adviser for Trump campaign , called the state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and said they will `` continue combatting election fraud around the country as we fight to count all the legal votes . ''
Biden has secured 306 Electoral College votes but Trump—with 232 Electoral College votes—has still not conceded .
In an attempt to flip the election , his campaign filed a series of lawsuits in several swing states , including Nevada , Pennsylvania , Arizona and Georgia .
Trump has alleged widespread voter fraud and a stolen election in remarks issued to the public through Twitter since Election Day , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been narrower , and so far , largely unsuccessful in court .
Trump needed to flip at least three states to pull his current total past the winning line , but with Michigan having certified , his path to victory has narrowed to virtually non-existent .
Newsweek reached out to the Trump campaign for further comment .

Michigan's Republican Officials resisted intense White House pressure to certify Joe Biden's election victory on Monday while the Chief administrator of the executive branch finally relented and began the transition to the president elect.
Still, it was Rush Limbaugh who dealt the heaviest blow to President Donald Trump's campaign to cast doubt on his election loss. The terminally ill radio host became the most influential conservative to dismiss voter fraud claims that have routinely been thrown out of court.
"They promised blockbuster stuff, and then nothing happened," Limbaugh said on Monday. "And that's just, that's not—well, it's not good."
The conservative radio kingpin, who had spent weeks aggressively echoing Trump's claims of widespread voter fraud, lambasted the president for failing to deliver after hyping up "massive bombshells" at a press conference on November 19. "There better be something other than what we got," he said.
President Donald Trump speaks to the press in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on November 20, 2020 in Washington, DC. Tasos Katopodis/Getty
Limbaugh's rare remarks are notable, given that he has been one of Trump's closest allies and public protectors over the past four years. The radio host, 69, wept live on television when Trump used the State of the Union this year to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian accolade. The president's decision to award the honor came after Limbaugh told his listeners he had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.
Limbaugh's grim news dealt a sobering blow to conservatives around the country. Trump supporters—a group that accounts for nearly 74 million votes this year—and a number of other conservatives view him as a fearless truth-teller who isn't afraid to fall on the wrong side of political correctness in his pursuit to stand up to the tyranny of the elite, the idiocies of big government and the out of touch left-wing academics and reporters.
On the other hand, his opponents have accused him of contributing to the country's political polarization through the use of bigoted lies and "alternative" facts.
Hours after Limbaugh broke with Trump, GSA administrator Emily Murphy informed President-elect Joe Biden that the president's administration was ready to formally start the transition process. The letter sent to Biden came two weeks after most media outlets declared him the winner of the 2020 election and was the first solid acknowledgement from the Trump administration of the president's defeat.
Trump immediately thanked Murphy and affirmed the decision to begin the transition process. But the president also vowed to continue his lawsuits filed in several swing states alleging widespread voter fraud and seeking to reverse his defeat. "We will keep up the good fight, and I believe we will prevail!" he tweeted. Despite Trump's insistence that he's merely following protocol, television hosts and Democrats have interpreted his remarks as essentially close to a concession.
Around the same time on Monday afternoon, Michigan's Board of State Canvassers officially certified Biden's victory in the state, marking the final nail into the coffin of Trump's election fraud claims and attempts to overturn the results. The certification came after the Trump campaign dropped its remaining federal lawsuit in the Wolverine State.
In a statement emailed to Newsweek, Jenna Ellis, a senior legal adviser for Trump campaign, called the state's certification "simply a procedural step," and said they will "continue combatting election fraud around the country as we fight to count all the legal votes."
Biden has secured 306 Electoral College votes but Trump—with 232 Electoral College votes—has still not conceded. In an attempt to flip the election, his campaign filed a series of lawsuits in several swing states, including Nevada, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Georgia. Trump has alleged widespread voter fraud and a stolen election in remarks issued to the public through Twitter since Election Day, but the contents and claims of the suits have been narrower, and so far, largely unsuccessful in court.
Trump needed to flip at least three states to pull his current total past the winning line, but with Michigan having certified, his path to victory has narrowed to virtually non-existent.
Newsweek reached out to the Trump campaign for further comment.


newsweek--2020-11-23--Jim Acosta Says WH Officials First Heard About Trump Accepting Transition on CNN

CNN 's Jim Acosta said that White House officials were `` surprised '' by the issuing of the General Services Administration ( GSA ) letter ascertaining that President-elect Joe Biden had won the election and had first learned of it while watching the cable news network .
Acosta , CNN 's chief White House correspondent , made the remarks during a Monday night broadcast with host Wolf Blitzer , shortly after the letter was issued .
He cited an unnamed White House official who said that staff had not been aware of the letter or President Donald Trump 's apparent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching the channel 's reporting .
`` I just spoke with a senior White House official in the last couple of minutes who said that this news came as a surprise to some inside the building , '' Acosta said .
`` They are learning this for the first time on CNN .
While this official said obviously there are staffers , like this person , who will be cooperating with the Biden team , this person could n't speak for everybody . ''
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump appointee , issued the `` letter of ascertainment '' declaring that Biden was the `` apparent president-elect '' earlier on Monday , after weeks of delays amid President Donald Trump 's evidence-free claims of election fraud .
The delay in issuing the letter , normally a formality allowing the transition process between outgoing and incoming presidential administrations to begin , was highly unusual and had become one of several contentious issues as Trump continued to dispute Biden 's victory weeks after the election .
A growing number of Republicans had called for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , expressing concerns that further delays could result in serious consequences including potential damage to national security .
Although Murphy insisted that she timed her letter `` independently '' and had not been pressured by the Trump administration , it is not clear whether there had been any discussions between Murphy and the president or other White House officials before her decision was made .
Trump appeared to take credit for the letter shortly after news broke that it had been issued , claiming he recommended the move in `` best interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been `` abused , '' while continuing to maintain that he would `` prevail '' despite the letter 's implications .
`` I want to thank Emily Murphy at GSA for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country , '' Trump tweeted .
`` She has been harassed , threatened , and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her , her family , or employees of GSA .
Our case STRONGLY continues , we will keep up the good fight , and I believe we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the best interest of our Country , I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols , and have told my team to do the same , '' he continued .
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment .

CNN's Jim Acosta said that White House officials were "surprised" by the issuing of the General Services Administration (GSA) letter ascertaining that President-elect Joe Biden had won the election and had first learned of it while watching the cable news network.
Acosta, CNN's chief White House correspondent, made the remarks during a Monday night broadcast with host Wolf Blitzer, shortly after the letter was issued. He cited an unnamed White House official who said that staff had not been aware of the letter or President Donald Trump's apparent approval of the transition moving forward before watching the channel's reporting.
"I just spoke with a senior White House official in the last couple of minutes who said that this news came as a surprise to some inside the building," Acosta said. "They are learning this for the first time on CNN. While this official said obviously there are staffers, like this person, who will be cooperating with the Biden team, this person couldn't speak for everybody."
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment.
GSA administrator Emily Murphy, a Trump appointee, issued the "letter of ascertainment" declaring that Biden was the "apparent president-elect" earlier on Monday, after weeks of delays amid President Donald Trump's evidence-free claims of election fraud.
The delay in issuing the letter, normally a formality allowing the transition process between outgoing and incoming presidential administrations to begin, was highly unusual and had become one of several contentious issues as Trump continued to dispute Biden's victory weeks after the election.
CNN's Chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta is pictured outside the White House in Washington, D.C. on November 16, 2018. Alex Wong/Getty
A growing number of Republicans had called for the letter to be issued in recent days, expressing concerns that further delays could result in serious consequences including potential damage to national security.
Although Murphy insisted that she timed her letter "independently" and had not been pressured by the Trump administration, it is not clear whether there had been any discussions between Murphy and the president or other White House officials before her decision was made.
Trump appeared to take credit for the letter shortly after news broke that it had been issued, claiming he recommended the move in "best interest" of the country and because Murphy had been "abused," while continuing to maintain that he would "prevail" despite the letter's implications.
"I want to thank Emily Murphy at GSA for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country," Trump tweeted. "She has been harassed, threatened, and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her, her family, or employees of GSA. Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good fight, and I believe we will prevail!"
"Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same," he continued.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment.