newsweek--2020-11-20--Middle East Deals Should Include Nuclear Energy Collaboration | Opinion

State legislatures will not report official results of the 2020 presidential election until December .
Assuming legal challenges do n't change those results , Joe Biden will become president in January .
When he enters the White House , he will have a rare opportunity to advance the cause of nuclear security and nonproliferation across the Middle East .
Unfortunately , he appears to believe that a hurried return to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran is the most viable path to that goal .
His administration should instead leverage the success of the Abraham Accords , which secured the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bahrain , to launch a new era of safe and peaceful civilian nuclear energy cooperation .
While Israel has never enjoyed more than a cold peace with its neighbors , there has been a rapid warming of its ties with the UAE and Bahrain , as well as nascent partnerships with other Gulf states , including Saudi Arabia .
The three governments have already signed agreements on financial services , joint investments , countering terrorism , defense surveillance technologies and more .
Joint ventures are moving ahead on tourism , health , agriculture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade .
Civilian nuclear energy collaboration is not yet on the table , and never was before , but it is an area ripe for progress .
Abu Dhabi and Riyadh have demonstrated a strong interest in civilian nuclear energy technologies .
The Emiratis began building nuclear power plants after signing a `` gold standard '' agreement with the U.S. in 2009 , under which they foreswore the right to enrich uranium or to reprocess plutonium , both of which could yield fissile material for nuclear weapons .
Saudi Arabia is building a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power generation plants .
Yet it has refused to give up the rights to independent enrichment and reprocessing inside the kingdom .
To that end , Riyadh is reportedly working with China on a facility for extracting yellowcake from uranium ore , a key step in the fuel cycle that may culminate in enrichment .
If true , this would be a notable setback for non-proliferation .
But Saudi Arabia 's hesitation to close off its path to nuclear weapons is not unprecedented .
The 2015 nuclear deal let Iran preserve its options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspectors and violation of binding non-proliferation agreements .
Still , both the U.S. and Israel have ample reason to ensure the Saudi nuclear program remains peaceful .
Hostile regimes like the Islamic Republic of Iran pose the greatest threat , but today 's allies could be tomorrow 's adversaries .
After all , the Islamic Republic inherited the Shah 's nuclear program .
Four-way nuclear cooperation between the U.S. , Israel , the UAE and Saudi Arabia could help prevent a cascade of Middle Eastern nuclear proliferation , but should not be tied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. and Iran .
Four-way cooperation could address a range of issues : nuclear safety and security ; emergency preparedness and joint exercises ; IAEA monitoring and verification ; and joint readiness to deal with radiological terrorism and hazardous materials proliferation .
Israel does not object to peaceful uses of nuclear energy by its Arab neighbors , provided they comply with their international non-proliferation commitments .
Jerusalem 's concern is with the spread of technologies for enrichment and reprocessing , which are integral to nuclear weapons development .
More than 30 countries have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or reprocessing and are satisfied to buy their nuclear fuel through proliferation-proof supplier agreements .
There also are a handful of countries , such as Germany and Japan , for which the development of enrichment and reprocessing abilities has not been a precursor to a nuclear weapons program .
Argentina is another example , although it has not signed the Additional Protocol of its Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement .
Yet four of the five major violators of the treaty have been Middle Eastern governments : Iran , Syria , Libya , and Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hence the U.S. and Israeli concern .
To ensure a coherent non-proliferation policy that includes the restraints necessary to address U.S. and Israeli concerns , Washington should hold all Gulf players to an equally high standard .
If a new administration wants to prevent Arab allies from demanding or clandestinely pursuing enrichment and reprocessing capabilities , Washington will have to return to the position it maintained ( together with UN Security Council resolutions supporting it ) before the faulty 2015 nuclear agreement—namely that no additional countries can enrich and reprocess at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on fissile materials ( uranium and plutonium ) technologies and a total prohibition on advanced centrifuge R & D , which facilitates clandestine enrichment .
If the Biden administration wants to return to the 2015 deal , it would have to be an improved version that applies this higher standard to Iran .
Tehran wants more , but a viable non-proliferation regime depends on a single standard for all signatories who seek peaceful nuclear power .
If Washington can bring Riyadh on board with a civilian nuclear technology cooperation agreement alongside Israel and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to look forward to a future in which Arab , Israeli and American nuclear scientists work shoulder to shoulder in the name of peace and security .
This cooperation would put to rest the false claim that Israel , rather than Iran , is the primary threat to Arab security .
And it may incentivize other Arab countries to normalize their relations with Israel once they see the benefits—in terms of security , technology and prosperity—of cooperation with Israel and the U.S. Brig.-Gen .
( res . )
Jacob Nagel is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense of Democracies ( FDD ) and a visiting professor at the Technion Aerospace Engineering Faculty .
He previously served as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's acting national security advisor and head of the National Security Council .
Mark Dubowitz is FDD 's chief executive .
An expert on Iran 's nuclear program and sanctions , he was sanctioned by Iran in 2019 .
The views expressed in this article are the writers ' own .

State legislatures will not report official results of the 2020 presidential election until December. Assuming legal challenges don't change those results, Joe Biden will become president in January. When he enters the White House, he will have a rare opportunity to advance the cause of nuclear security and nonproliferation across the Middle East. Unfortunately, he appears to believe that a hurried return to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran is the most viable path to that goal. His administration should instead leverage the success of the Abraham Accords, which secured the recognition of Israel by the UAE and Bahrain, to launch a new era of safe and peaceful civilian nuclear energy cooperation.
While Israel has never enjoyed more than a cold peace with its neighbors, there has been a rapid warming of its ties with the UAE and Bahrain, as well as nascent partnerships with other Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia. The three governments have already signed agreements on financial services, joint investments, countering terrorism, defense surveillance technologies and more. Joint ventures are moving ahead on tourism, health, agriculture, water, space, science and trade.
Civilian nuclear energy collaboration is not yet on the table, and never was before, but it is an area ripe for progress. Abu Dhabi and Riyadh have demonstrated a strong interest in civilian nuclear energy technologies. The Emiratis began building nuclear power plants after signing a "gold standard" agreement with the U.S. in 2009, under which they foreswore the right to enrich uranium or to reprocess plutonium, both of which could yield fissile material for nuclear weapons.
Saudi Arabia is building a nuclear research reactor and has plans for power generation plants. Yet it has refused to give up the rights to independent enrichment and reprocessing inside the kingdom. To that end, Riyadh is reportedly working with China on a facility for extracting yellowcake from uranium ore, a key step in the fuel cycle that may culminate in enrichment.
If true, this would be a notable setback for non-proliferation. But Saudi Arabia's hesitation to close off its path to nuclear weapons is not unprecedented. The 2015 nuclear deal let Iran preserve its options despite Tehran's serial deception of nuclear inspectors and violation of binding non-proliferation agreements.
Still, both the U.S. and Israel have ample reason to ensure the Saudi nuclear program remains peaceful. Hostile regimes like the Islamic Republic of Iran pose the greatest threat, but today's allies could be tomorrow's adversaries. After all, the Islamic Republic inherited the Shah's nuclear program.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, walk towards the Treaty Room at the State Department, October 14, 2020, in Washington, DC. Manuel Balce CENETA / POOL / AFP/Getty
Four-way nuclear cooperation between the U.S., Israel, the UAE and Saudi Arabia could help prevent a cascade of Middle Eastern nuclear proliferation, but should not be tied to a potential nuclear agreement between the U.S. and Iran. Four-way cooperation could address a range of issues: nuclear safety and security; emergency preparedness and joint exercises; IAEA monitoring and verification; and joint readiness to deal with radiological terrorism and hazardous materials proliferation.
Israel does not object to peaceful uses of nuclear energy by its Arab neighbors, provided they comply with their international non-proliferation commitments. Jerusalem's concern is with the spread of technologies for enrichment and reprocessing, which are integral to nuclear weapons development.
More than 30 countries have peaceful civilian nuclear energy programs without enrichment or reprocessing and are satisfied to buy their nuclear fuel through proliferation-proof supplier agreements. There also are a handful of countries, such as Germany and Japan, for which the development of enrichment and reprocessing abilities has not been a precursor to a nuclear weapons program. Argentina is another example, although it has not signed the Additional Protocol of its Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement. Yet four of the five major violators of the treaty have been Middle Eastern governments: Iran, Syria, Libya, and Iraq (North Korea is the fifth). Hence the U.S. and Israeli concern.
To ensure a coherent non-proliferation policy that includes the restraints necessary to address U.S. and Israeli concerns, Washington should hold all Gulf players to an equally high standard. If a new administration wants to prevent Arab allies from demanding or clandestinely pursuing enrichment and reprocessing capabilities, Washington will have to return to the position it maintained (together with UN Security Council resolutions supporting it) before the faulty 2015 nuclear agreement—namely that no additional countries can enrich and reprocess at all. This would include a total ban on fissile materials (uranium and plutonium) technologies and a total prohibition on advanced centrifuge R&D, which facilitates clandestine enrichment.
If the Biden administration wants to return to the 2015 deal, it would have to be an improved version that applies this higher standard to Iran. Tehran wants more, but a viable non-proliferation regime depends on a single standard for all signatories who seek peaceful nuclear power.
If Washington can bring Riyadh on board with a civilian nuclear technology cooperation agreement alongside Israel and the UAE, the Middle East may be able to look forward to a future in which Arab, Israeli and American nuclear scientists work shoulder to shoulder in the name of peace and security. This cooperation would put to rest the false claim that Israel, rather than Iran, is the primary threat to Arab security. And it may incentivize other Arab countries to normalize their relations with Israel once they see the benefits—in terms of security, technology and prosperity—of cooperation with Israel and the U.S.
Brig.-Gen. (res.) Jacob Nagel is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and a visiting professor at the Technion Aerospace Engineering Faculty. He previously served as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's acting national security advisor and head of the National Security Council. Mark Dubowitz is FDD's chief executive. An expert on Iran's nuclear program and sanctions, he was sanctioned by Iran in 2019.
The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.


newsweek--2020-11-20--Cleveland Police Investigating Swastika Painted on Jewish Cemetery

Police are investigating after a swastika was painted on a Jewish cemetery in Cleveland , Ohio , in what Jewish leaders in the city have called a `` vile and cowardly act . ''
Vandals used red paint to daub the symbol alongside a star of David and the word `` Jewish '' on a utility pole and a tree in the Broadway-Slavic Village neighborhood .
Brett Cochran , manager of the Lansing Avenue Jewish Cemetery , said he discovered the graffiti on Monday and reported it to Cleveland police a day later .
Police have launched an investigation but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspect .
David Heller , chair of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland , said the organisation was `` sickened by the vile and cowardly act of vandalism . ''
`` This attempt to desecrate a final resting place that has served our community since 1890 is unforgivable and indefensible .
Federation and its security provider – JFC Security , LLC – are working closely with local law enforcement to bring all responsible parties to justice .
Hate has no home in Cleveland , and we will continue to work tirelessly to keep all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the latest in a string of suspected anti-semitic hate crimes in the city .
In July , a swastika and other graffiti including an image of the devil with a pitchfork was spray painted on three Jewish businesses in the University Heights neighborhood .
One of the premises targeted housed the Waxman Torah Center , where a Jewish learning organisation is based .
The previous summer , a poster which read `` Holocaust = Fake News '' was placed over a sign at the entrance of Cleveland 's Maltz Museum of Jewish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dahlia Fisher , director of external affairs for the museum , said she had witnessed an `` escalation in expressions of hate ; not just anti-semitism but across the spectrum of religions . ''
And in 2017 , police said a swastika and other anti-semitic references including the words `` We will rise and gas you ... '' had been carved into the door frame of a synagogue .
A report in May from the Anti-Defamation League ( ADL ) found that in 2019 the U.S. had witnessed the largest number of anti-Semitic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 years ago .
There were 2,107 anti-semitic incidents last year , a 12 percent rise from 1,879 incidents in 2018 , the report said .
That included 1,127 cases of harassment , 61 cases of physical assaults and 919 instances of vandalism .
Jonathan Greenblatt , CEO of the ADL , said the organization has recorded an `` unprecedented '' level of anti-Semitic activity .
`` Many Jewish communities across the country had direct encounters with hate , '' he said .

Police are investigating after a swastika was painted on a Jewish cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio, in what Jewish leaders in the city have called a "vile and cowardly act."
Vandals used red paint to daub the symbol alongside a star of David and the word "Jewish" on a utility pole and a tree in the Broadway-Slavic Village neighborhood.
Brett Cochran, manager of the Lansing Avenue Jewish Cemetery, said he discovered the graffiti on Monday and reported it to Cleveland police a day later.
Police have launched an investigation but have not released information about a possible suspect.
David Heller, chair of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, said the organisation was "sickened by the vile and cowardly act of vandalism."
"This attempt to desecrate a final resting place that has served our community since 1890 is unforgivable and indefensible. Federation and its security provider – JFC Security, LLC – are working closely with local law enforcement to bring all responsible parties to justice. Hate has no home in Cleveland, and we will continue to work tirelessly to keep all Jewish Clevelanders safe."
The incident is the latest in a string of suspected anti-semitic hate crimes in the city.
In July, a swastika and other graffiti including an image of the devil with a pitchfork was spray painted on three Jewish businesses in the University Heights neighborhood.
One of the premises targeted housed the Waxman Torah Center, where a Jewish learning organisation is based.
The previous summer, a poster which read "Holocaust = Fake News" was placed over a sign at the entrance of Cleveland's Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.
Speaking at the time, Dahlia Fisher, director of external affairs for the museum, said she had witnessed an "escalation in expressions of hate; not just anti-semitism but across the spectrum of religions."
And in 2017, police said a swastika and other anti-semitic references including the words "We will rise and gas you..." had been carved into the door frame of a synagogue.
A screen grab from Google Street View of Lansing Avenue Jewish Cemetery. Police are investigating the incident. Google Maps
A report in May from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found that in 2019 the U.S. had witnessed the largest number of anti-Semitic incidents since the group started collecting records 40 years ago.
There were 2,107 anti-semitic incidents last year, a 12 percent rise from 1,879 incidents in 2018, the report said. That included 1,127 cases of harassment, 61 cases of physical assaults and 919 instances of vandalism.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL, said the organization has recorded an "unprecedented" level of anti-Semitic activity. "Many Jewish communities across the country had direct encounters with hate," he said.
Newsweek contacted the Cleveland police department for comment.


newsweek--2020-11-20--Bette Midler Urges People to Ignore Trump in Scathing Open Letter: 'Face It! You Lost!'

Bette Midler has tweeted a scathing open letter directing at Donald Trump , mocking the president 's refusal to concede and urging people to ignore him .
The Hocus Pocus star is famously not a fan of the Trump administration , often tweeting her disdain for the president—and she did not hold back in her latest tirade on Twitter .
`` Dear Donnie , '' she began .
`` I know you are a bottomless pit of need , but really , dude , the rest of us have lives to lead , and we just ca n't pay any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic , she added to her two million followers : `` There 's 250,000 people dead , the economy sucks , and I 'm not feeling too good myself . ''
She ended her open letter by telling Trump : `` Face it !
You lost !
Grow a pair and go ! ''
The actress and singer 's tweet has garnered 16,000 likes at the time of publishing .
Earlier on Thursday , the 74-year-old condemned Republicans who refuse to concede victory to Joe Biden .
`` It is becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these criminals try to dismantle the United States of America , '' she wrote .
`` What they are doing by sowing all this distrust will lead to the end of our Republic , or civil war . ''
Midler also made headlines this week when she told Kayleigh McEnany to `` go f*** '' herself in a scathing tweet mocking the education and qualifications of the White House press secretary .
On the subject of allegations of voter fraud in Michigan , the Harvard-educated press official tweeted on Wednesday : `` After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations of fraud in Wayne County , Michigan voting , the Wayne County Board of Canvassers has DECLINED to certify their portion of the Michigan vote . ''
To which , Midler shot back by saying Harvard `` has a lot to answer for . ''
`` With all due respect , Kayleigh , go f*** yourself , '' Midler responded , adding : `` IMHO , Harvard has a lot to answer for . ''
Last month , Midler called Trump `` cruel and bloodthirsty '' in a lengthy Twitter rant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's a 'good-humored moron , ' other days , he 's a 'cruel and bloodthirsty fiend , ' '' she wrote in response to a tweet that suggested Trump knew he would lose the election and was purposefully doing damage before leaving the White House .
`` He will topple the Republic , and walk away unscathed . ''
In 2019 , the president engaged in an exchange with the `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' singer , labeling her a `` washed up psycho . ''

Bette Midler has tweeted a scathing open letter directing at Donald Trump, mocking the president's refusal to concede and urging people to ignore him.
The Hocus Pocus star is famously not a fan of the Trump administration, often tweeting her disdain for the president—and she did not hold back in her latest tirade on Twitter.
"Dear Donnie," she began. "I know you are a bottomless pit of need, but really, dude, the rest of us have lives to lead, and we just can't pay any more attention to you."
Referencing the coronavirus pandemic, she added to her two million followers: "There's 250,000 people dead, the economy sucks, and I'm not feeling too good myself."
She ended her open letter by telling Trump: "Face it! You lost! Grow a pair and go!"
Dear Donnie,
I now you are a bottomless pit of need, but really, dude, the rest of us have lives to lead, & we just can't pay any more attention to you. There's 250,000 people dead, the economy sucks, and I'm not feeling too good myself. Face it! You lost! Grow a pair and go! — bettemidler (@BetteMidler) November 19, 2020
The actress and singer's tweet has garnered 16,000 likes at the time of publishing.
Earlier on Thursday, the 74-year-old condemned Republicans who refuse to concede victory to Joe Biden.
"It is becoming increasingly hard to stand by and watch these criminals try to dismantle the United States of America," she wrote. "What they are doing by sowing all this distrust will lead to the end of our Republic, or civil war."
It is becoming increasingly hard to stand by and watch these criminals try to dismantle the United States of America. What they are doing by sowing all this distrust will lead to the end of our Republic, or civil war. — bettemidler (@BetteMidler) November 19, 2020
Midler also made headlines this week when she told Kayleigh McEnany to "go f***" herself in a scathing tweet mocking the education and qualifications of the White House press secretary.
On the subject of allegations of voter fraud in Michigan, the Harvard-educated press official tweeted on Wednesday: "After presenting 234 pages of sworn affidavits raising allegations of fraud in Wayne County, Michigan voting, the Wayne County Board of Canvassers has DECLINED to certify their portion of the Michigan vote."
To which, Midler shot back by saying Harvard "has a lot to answer for."
"With all due respect, Kayleigh, go f*** yourself," Midler responded, adding: "IMHO, Harvard has a lot to answer for."
Bette Midler attends "The Politician" New York Premiere at DGA Theater on September 26, 2019 in New York City. Midler has penned a scathing open letter to Donald Trump on her Twitter feed. John Lamparski/Getty Images
Last month, Midler called Trump "cruel and bloodthirsty" in a lengthy Twitter rant.
"He's utterly schizoid, somedays he's a 'good-humored moron,' other days, he's a 'cruel and bloodthirsty fiend,'" she wrote in response to a tweet that suggested Trump knew he would lose the election and was purposefully doing damage before leaving the White House. "He will topple the Republic, and walk away unscathed."
In 2019, the president engaged in an exchange with the "Wind Beneath My Wings" singer, labeling her a "washed up psycho."


newsweek--2020-11-20--The EU's Democratic Backsliding Against Poland and Hungary | Opinion

Americans and Europeans should realize how similar our respective experiments in political unity have proven to be .
If congressional showdowns over debt ceilings and shutdowns sound familiar to Europeans , it 's because our leaders also ca n't seem to agree on a path forward unless a crisis of the largest magnitude forces them to , and even in an emergency , they take every opportunity to press a partisan advantage .
The EU is currently trying to leverage coronavirus relief to force compliance from conservative governments in Poland and Hungary , putting the entire continent 's financial stability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached in July over its budget for 2021-2027 and its response to the COVID-19 recession was the latest example of European political gridlock .
Only after five months without signs of the virus abating , and facing a deadline for the current budget to expire , did EU heads of state agree to redistribute €1.1 trillion in member states ' contributions over the next seven years , with an additional €750 billion earmarked to address the economic fallout from COVID-19 .
Some of the fine print of how states will be required to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it back to Brussels remains to be hashed out , but at the time of the agreement , the deal tabled away a controversial `` rule-of-law conditionality mechanism . ''
Or so we were told .
Let 's detour into what this provision entails .
EU treaties require `` rule of law '' to both join the bloc and stay on as a member , but as with much else , what the notion exactly means is left vague , beyond the usual bromides about independent judiciaries and the recourse to contest arbitrary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who wish to merge our vastly different systems into a single EU judiciary , EU treaties do n't explicitly dictate such minutiae as how constitutional court judges should be appointed and how their mandate should be regulated .
Part of this ambiguity owes to the difficulty of laying a concrete benchmark for `` rule of law '' among countries that remain , compared to the rest of the world , all good exemplars of it .
This vagueness , as it turns out , has been used to turn `` rule of law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime culpability is not legal , but political .
Poland is one of those countries .
In December 2019 , Poland 's Sejm voted to establish a `` disciplinary mechanism '' to deal with judges whose denunciations of the make-up of the Supreme Court , a majority of the legislature believed , discredited the country in the eyes of the world .
All this traces back to partisan squabbles , not to any neutral definition of `` rule of law . ''
The make-up of the Court that these progressive judges denounced stemmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the centrist-liberal Civic Platform , upon losing the presidency in 2015 but retaining a short-lived majority in the Sejm , attempted to pack the Court with five new judges .
Andrezj Duda , who won the presidency in 2015 , vetoed this lame-duck maneuver upon taking office and the parliamentary majority of the conservative PiS party that rode his coattails appointed its own slate of judges—hence the opposition 's bitterness , and the disciplinary mechanism meant to keep it from becoming a reputational crisis for Poland .
Sober-minded Poles and Europeans can reasonably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for appointing—and blocking the appointment of—judges , and what role this question plays in our understanding of the `` rule of law . ''
How minority factions should behave when they lose a mandate to shape the judicial branch is the thornier question .
Our American friends are no strangers to it .
Democrats resented Mitch McConnell 's stonewalling of Judge Merrick Garland 's nomination in 2016 .
While Trump has overhauled the federal bench far beyond the norm for a one-term president , outside groups aligned with the opposition party have portrayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to authoritarianism .
Sadly , Poland 's opposition , not trusting that the Polish people can arbiter against interference with the judiciary , have themselves enlisted a plethora of outside NGOs and Brussels bureaucrats to lambast an alleged `` backsliding '' of democratic norms .
It 's a drum the Polish Left , ever so weary of the Poles voting the wrong way , has beaten so loudly that in April 2019 , the European Commission launched an `` infringement procedure '' against Poland over the disciplinary mechanism .
Such infringement procedures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule of law , '' are anchored in partisan dislike of conservative governments .
Hungary is an even better example .
With perhaps the aggravating factor of a recent spike in reported corruption cases , Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is the real bête noire of Brussels 's liberal-federalist consensus , and the Commission 's probe into his government 's judicial policies is even more compromised than in the case of Poland .
Under scrutiny is Hungary 's tightening of transparency requirements on foreign-funded NGOs which , under the guise of legal aid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Serbian border in the summer of 2015 , at the height of that year 's migrant crisis .
Again , the proper ordering of an independent judiciary can be a matter of reasoned argument .
Yet even though its infringement procedures have yet to definitively ascertain breaches grave enough to warrant financial penalties , the EU threatened to withhold vital funds—risking the immeasurable achievement of the July deal—on the basis of requirements that are nowhere specified in EU treaties .
If this sounds awfully close to blackmail , it 's because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before , the EU showed how far it will go to coerce states diverging from its proto-federalist , hyper-liberal direction into accepting its one-size-fits-all diktats .
The choice given to Poland and Hungary on Monday was , in the words of a German social-democrat politician , to either `` financially starve '' or drag the entire Union into the same predicament by vetoing the whole budget , thus throwing the arduous progress of the last few months out the window .
But putting the July deal at risk was not an accident—it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heads of state who added the conditionality mechanism back into the budget deal , leaving Europeans out in the cold without essential funds to weather the crisis was a risk worth taking , if the payoff was bending Poland and Hungary once and for all .
The Euro-federalist consensus in Brussels is no doubt solid , but so is the determination of Poles and Hungarians not to be bullied .
On Monday , the plot to subdue them failed , thankfully .
After being dared to either bow down or veto the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morawiecki chose the latter .
On the face of it , they were entirely right to do so—the conditionality mechanism directly contravenes the Council 's prior decision from July and castigates two sovereign member states on the basis of something that 's not in the treaties .
As the Council prepares for further talks this week , Germany 's Angela Merkel is reported to be willing to buck anti-Poland and Hungary hardliners , such as the Netherlands , and seek a compromise with Orbán and Morawiecki .
But the veto was crucial for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU is ready to fill the vacuous notion of `` rule of law '' with the latest progressive shibboleth of the day and use it as a cudgel against governments that dissent from Brussels ' liberal-federalist consensus , what is to stop it from finding even more off-base accusations in the future ?
What is to halt it from , say , threatening to impoverish countries that restrict abortion or refuse to build transgender bathrooms ?
For better or worse , the future of Europe as a collaborative union of sovereign nation-states—and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands of two leaders .
Let 's hope they stand tall .
Jorge González-Gallarza ( @ JorgeGGallarza ) is the co-host of the Uncommon Decency podcast on European issues ( @ UnDecencyPod ) and an associate researcher at Fundación Civismo .
The views expressed in this article are the writer 's own .

Americans and Europeans should realize how similar our respective experiments in political unity have proven to be. If congressional showdowns over debt ceilings and shutdowns sound familiar to Europeans, it's because our leaders also can't seem to agree on a path forward unless a crisis of the largest magnitude forces them to, and even in an emergency, they take every opportunity to press a partisan advantage. The EU is currently trying to leverage coronavirus relief to force compliance from conservative governments in Poland and Hungary, putting the entire continent's financial stability at risk.
The agreement the EU reached in July over its budget for 2021-2027 and its response to the COVID-19 recession was the latest example of European political gridlock. Only after five months without signs of the virus abating, and facing a deadline for the current budget to expire, did EU heads of state agree to redistribute €1.1 trillion in member states' contributions over the next seven years, with an additional €750 billion earmarked to address the economic fallout from COVID-19. Some of the fine print of how states will be required to spend the appropriated money and report on it back to Brussels remains to be hashed out, but at the time of the agreement, the deal tabled away a controversial "rule-of-law conditionality mechanism." Or so we were told.
Let's detour into what this provision entails. EU treaties require "rule of law" to both join the bloc and stay on as a member, but as with much else, what the notion exactly means is left vague, beyond the usual bromides about independent judiciaries and the recourse to contest arbitrary decisions. To the chagrin of Euro-federalists who wish to merge our vastly different systems into a single EU judiciary, EU treaties don't explicitly dictate such minutiae as how constitutional court judges should be appointed and how their mandate should be regulated. Part of this ambiguity owes to the difficulty of laying a concrete benchmark for "rule of law" among countries that remain, compared to the rest of the world, all good exemplars of it. This vagueness, as it turns out, has been used to turn "rule of law" into a cudgel against countries whose prime culpability is not legal, but political.
Poland is one of those countries. In December 2019, Poland's Sejm voted to establish a "disciplinary mechanism" to deal with judges whose denunciations of the make-up of the Supreme Court, a majority of the legislature believed, discredited the country in the eyes of the world. All this traces back to partisan squabbles, not to any neutral definition of "rule of law." The make-up of the Court that these progressive judges denounced stemmed from a period of divided government when the centrist-liberal Civic Platform, upon losing the presidency in 2015 but retaining a short-lived majority in the Sejm, attempted to pack the Court with five new judges. Andrezj Duda, who won the presidency in 2015, vetoed this lame-duck maneuver upon taking office and the parliamentary majority of the conservative PiS party that rode his coattails appointed its own slate of judges—hence the opposition's bitterness, and the disciplinary mechanism meant to keep it from becoming a reputational crisis for Poland.
Sober-minded Poles and Europeans can reasonably argue about the appropriate threshold of legitimacy for appointing—and blocking the appointment of—judges, and what role this question plays in our understanding of the "rule of law." How minority factions should behave when they lose a mandate to shape the judicial branch is the thornier question. Our American friends are no strangers to it. Democrats resented Mitch McConnell's stonewalling of Judge Merrick Garland's nomination in 2016. While Trump has overhauled the federal bench far beyond the norm for a one-term president, outside groups aligned with the opposition party have portrayed America's entire judiciary as an accessory to authoritarianism.
Sadly, Poland's opposition, not trusting that the Polish people can arbiter against interference with the judiciary, have themselves enlisted a plethora of outside NGOs and Brussels bureaucrats to lambast an alleged "backsliding" of democratic norms. It's a drum the Polish Left, ever so weary of the Poles voting the wrong way, has beaten so loudly that in April 2019, the European Commission launched an "infringement procedure" against Poland over the disciplinary mechanism.
Pedestrians are walking in front of the Berlaymont, the headquarters of the European Commission, on September 24, 2020 in Brussels, Belgium. Thierry Monasse/Getty
Such infringement procedures, cloaked in self-righteous virtue signaling about "rule of law," are anchored in partisan dislike of conservative governments. Hungary is an even better example. With perhaps the aggravating factor of a recent spike in reported corruption cases, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is the real bête noire of Brussels's liberal-federalist consensus, and the Commission's probe into his government's judicial policies is even more compromised than in the case of Poland. Under scrutiny is Hungary's tightening of transparency requirements on foreign-funded NGOs which, under the guise of legal aid, deliberately stoked the inflows of asylum-seekers through the Serbian border in the summer of 2015, at the height of that year's migrant crisis.
Again, the proper ordering of an independent judiciary can be a matter of reasoned argument. Yet even though its infringement procedures have yet to definitively ascertain breaches grave enough to warrant financial penalties, the EU threatened to withhold vital funds—risking the immeasurable achievement of the July deal—on the basis of requirements that are nowhere specified in EU treaties. If this sounds awfully close to blackmail, it's because it is blackmail.
More clearly than ever before, the EU showed how far it will go to coerce states diverging from its proto-federalist, hyper-liberal direction into accepting its one-size-fits-all diktats. The choice given to Poland and Hungary on Monday was, in the words of a German social-democrat politician, to either "financially starve" or drag the entire Union into the same predicament by vetoing the whole budget, thus throwing the arduous progress of the last few months out the window. But putting the July deal at risk was not an accident—it was precisely the EU's strategy. To the heads of state who added the conditionality mechanism back into the budget deal, leaving Europeans out in the cold without essential funds to weather the crisis was a risk worth taking, if the payoff was bending Poland and Hungary once and for all.
The Euro-federalist consensus in Brussels is no doubt solid, but so is the determination of Poles and Hungarians not to be bullied. On Monday, the plot to subdue them failed, thankfully. After being dared to either bow down or veto the entire package, PMs Orbán and Mateusz Morawiecki chose the latter. On the face of it, they were entirely right to do so—the conditionality mechanism directly contravenes the Council's prior decision from July and castigates two sovereign member states on the basis of something that's not in the treaties.
As the Council prepares for further talks this week, Germany's Angela Merkel is reported to be willing to buck anti-Poland and Hungary hardliners, such as the Netherlands, and seek a compromise with Orbán and Morawiecki. But the veto was crucial for another reason. Seeing as how the EU is ready to fill the vacuous notion of "rule of law" with the latest progressive shibboleth of the day and use it as a cudgel against governments that dissent from Brussels' liberal-federalist consensus, what is to stop it from finding even more off-base accusations in the future? What is to halt it from, say, threatening to impoverish countries that restrict abortion or refuse to build transgender bathrooms?
For better or worse, the future of Europe as a collaborative union of sovereign nation-states—and not a punitive mechanism against conservatives—is in the hands of two leaders. Let's hope they stand tall.
Jorge González-Gallarza (@JorgeGGallarza) is the co-host of the Uncommon Decency podcast on European issues (@UnDecencyPod) and an associate researcher at Fundación Civismo.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


newsweek--2020-11-20--California's Tier Map Explained as Purple Counties Face Month-Long Curfew

California has issued a month-long curfew that will affect more than 90 percent of the state 's population .
The state is working with a tiered system based on the amount of spread within its counties , with purple counties facing the most severe restrictions .
From November 21 , non-essential activities will have to stop between 10 p.m. PST to 5 a.m. PST in counties in the purple tier .
The order will remain in effect until 5 a.m. on December 21 , though it could be revised or extended .
This means that all gatherings with members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the residence have to stop .
The order does not apply to activities relating to the operation , maintenance , or usage of critical infrastructure , to activities required by law .
Additionally , the order does not apply to people experiencing homelessness .
People from the same household can still leave their homes between these times as long as they do not engage in any interaction or gather with anyone from outside of their household .
Erica S. Pan , Acting State Public Health Officer of the California Department of Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a news release and said : `` This Limited Stay at Home Order will reduce opportunities for disease transmission with the goal of decreasing the number of hours individuals are in the community and mixing with individuals outside of their household .
`` Every intervention to decrease mixing of households is critical during this unparalleled increase in case rate rise of about 50 percent during the first week in November .
`` In particular , activities conducted during 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. are often non-essential and more likely related to social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likelihood of leading to reduced inhibition and reduced likelihood to adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures ( e.g.
, wearing face coverings and maintaining physical distance ) . ''
Data from November 18 shows that California has had 1,059,267 cases and 18,466 deaths related to COVID-19 .
The following counties are `` purple counties '' meaning the risk level is `` widespread , '' with more than seven new daily cases per 100,000 people , or a positivity rate of eight percent or more , ( based on a 7-day average of all COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In purple counties , many non-essential indoor business operations are closed , and their residents will face a month-long curfew .
The following counties are `` red counties '' which means that there is a substantial risk , with between four and seven new daily cases and a positivity rate of five to eight percent .
In red counties , some non-essential indoor business operations are closed .
The following counties are `` orange counties '' which means there is a moderate risk , with between one and 3.9 new daily cases and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent .
The following counties are `` yellow counties '' which means there is a minimal risk , with less than one new daily case and a positivity rate of less than two percent .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom shared the news on Twitter and said : `` Together—we can flatten the curve again . ''

California has issued a month-long curfew that will affect more than 90 percent of the state's population. The state is working with a tiered system based on the amount of spread within its counties, with purple counties facing the most severe restrictions.
From November 21, non-essential activities will have to stop between 10 p.m. PST to 5 a.m. PST in counties in the purple tier. The order will remain in effect until 5 a.m. on December 21, though it could be revised or extended.
This means that all gatherings with members of other households and other activities outside of the residence have to stop.
The order does not apply to activities relating to the operation, maintenance, or usage of critical infrastructure, to activities required by law. Additionally, the order does not apply to people experiencing homelessness.
People from the same household can still leave their homes between these times as long as they do not engage in any interaction or gather with anyone from outside of their household.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during election night event on November 6, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. Newsom announced news of a month-long curfew for California's "purple counties" and said: "Together—we can flatten the curve again." Getty/Kevork Djansezian
Erica S. Pan, Acting State Public Health Officer of the California Department of Public Health, explained the reasoning behind this curfew in a news release and said: "This Limited Stay at Home Order will reduce opportunities for disease transmission with the goal of decreasing the number of hours individuals are in the community and mixing with individuals outside of their household.
"Every intervention to decrease mixing of households is critical during this unparalleled increase in case rate rise of about 50 percent during the first week in November.
"In particular, activities conducted during 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. are often non-essential and more likely related to social activities and gatherings that have a higher likelihood of leading to reduced inhibition and reduced likelihood to adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures (e.g., wearing face coverings and maintaining physical distance)."
Data from November 18 shows that California has had 1,059,267 cases and 18,466 deaths related to COVID-19.
Californians living in "purple counties" will face a month-long curfew between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. California Gov
California Purple Counties
The following counties are "purple counties" meaning the risk level is "widespread," with more than seven new daily cases per 100,000 people, or a positivity rate of eight percent or more, (based on a 7-day average of all COVID-19 tests performed that are positive).
In purple counties, many non-essential indoor business operations are closed, and their residents will face a month-long curfew.
Alameda
Butte
Contra Costa
El Dorado
Fresno
Glenn
Imperial
Kern
Kings
Los Angeles
Madera
Mendocino
Merced
Monterey
Napa
Nevada
Orange
Placer
Riverside
Sacramento
San Benito
San Bernardino
San Diego
San Francisco
San Joaquin
San Luis Obispo
Santa Barbara
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
Shasta
Siskiyou
Solano
Sonoma
Stanislaus
Sutter
Tehama
Trinity
Tulare
Tuolumne
Ventura
Yolo
Yuba
California Red Counties
The following counties are "red counties" which means that there is a substantial risk, with between four and seven new daily cases and a positivity rate of five to eight percent.
In red counties, some non-essential indoor business operations are closed.
Amador
Colusa
Del Norte
Humboldt
Lake
Marin
Modoc
Mono
Plumas
San Mateo
California Orange Counties
The following counties are "orange counties" which means there is a moderate risk, with between one and 3.9 new daily cases and a positivity rate between two and 4.9 percent.
Calaveras
Inyo
Lassen
Sierra
California Yellow Counties
The following counties are "yellow counties" which means there is a minimal risk, with less than one new daily case and a positivity rate of less than two percent.
Alpine
Mariposa
California Gov. Gavin Newsom shared the news on Twitter and said: "Together—we can flatten the curve again."


newsweek--2020-11-20--Cases Fall in Europe but WHO Warns Of Another Tough Six Months

COVID cases are falling across Europe for the first time in months in a sign that new widespread lockdowns may be working .
Two weeks ago the World Health Organization ( WHO ) reported around two million new infections per week across the continent .
Last week , that number fell by 10 percent , to 1.8 million .
Dr. Hans Kluge , WHO Europe director , said the despite the drop in cases , a `` tough '' six months lie ahead with Europe once more the epicenter of the pandemic .
The continent had recorded more than 29,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Across Europe , 4,500 lives are still lost to the virus every day .
So far , Europe has seen 15,738,179 confirmed infections and 354,154 deaths attributed to COVID-19 , according to WHO data .
Kluge said Europe accounted for 28 percent of global cases and 26 percent of deaths and expressed particular concern over the situation in Switzerland and France , where intensive care units are at 95 percent capacity .
`` Europe is once again the epicenter of the pandemic , together with the United States , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Denmark , adding that the latest figures showed there was `` one person dying every 17 seconds '' .
Strict restrictions were announced at the end of October across Europe , largely seeing certain businesses closed and gatherings banned or reduced in size .
The lockdowns are generally less severe than those implemented during the COVID first wave in the spring , with schools generally remaining open and limits on travel less strict than they were .
A month into its lockdown , France saw its seven-day average for new daily cases cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The United Kingdom , Spain , Belgium , Switzerland , and the Czech Republic have also reported a decrease in infections .
The U.K. became the first country in Europe to pass 50,000 deaths , only the fifth country to do so after the United States , Brazil , India , and Mexico .
According to the latest figures released by the British government , there are currently 1,453,256 cases in the U.K. and 53,775 people have died within 28 days of a positive test .
The development of vaccines , which train @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , have raised hopes of bringing the pandemic under control .
`` There is light at the end of the tunnel but it will be a tough six months , '' Kluge said .
At a virtual summit on Thursday , European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc could approve two vaccines by year 's end .
Four vaccines - Oxford , Pfizer-BioNTech , Sputnik , and Moderna - have reported good preliminary data .
`` We will continue coordinating our efforts to keep citizens informed on vaccination , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said recent progress on vaccines was promising but did not yet represent `` a silver bullet '' because `` we know the supply will be limited particularly in the beginning '' .
In the meantime , social distancing and wearing a mask remained the best ways to mitigate the spread of the virus , he said .
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock claimed the U.K. could begin a mass rollout of a COVID vaccination alongside flu vaccines `` within a matter of weeks '' .
He told Sky News : `` Normally 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This year it will be 30 million – the biggest number in history .
`` We hope that we will also have a COVID vaccination program alongside that .
It will be a huge effort , but I know that the NHS ( National Health Service ) is up for it . ''
EU leaders have come up with a €1.8 trillion ( $ 2.1tn ) EU budget until 2027 which includes a €750 billion ( $ 890bn ) coronavirus recovery fund .
Hungary and Poland have so far blocked approval of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding with adherence to the rule of law in the bloc .
Across the continent , thoughts have turned to Christmas , with fears the holiday could be put on hold this year .
In Italy , where COVID deaths have already more than doubled in November compared with October , Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte warned that the holiday would look very different this year .
`` Big parties , kisses , and hugs will not be possible , this would mean an abrupt rise in the [ infection ] curve in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We hope that we can still buy and exchange gifts . ''
Scientists advising the UK government have raised similar concerns and warned that any break in restrictions to allow people to meet up on Christmas Day could see even tougher rules on mixing brought in for the New Year .
Every day that restrictions are lifted will need two days of tighter restrictions as a result , Dr. Susan Hopkins , the government 's medical adviser , warned .
Dr. Julian Tang , a clinical virologist at the University of Leicester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break will likely see `` a surge of cases detectable over the following two to three weeks . ''

COVID cases are falling across Europe for the first time in months in a sign that new widespread lockdowns may be working.
Two weeks ago the World Health Organization (WHO) reported around two million new infections per week across the continent. Last week, that number fell by 10 percent, to 1.8 million.
Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Europe director, said the despite the drop in cases, a "tough" six months lie ahead with Europe once more the epicenter of the pandemic. The continent had recorded more than 29,000 new COVID-19 deaths last week, Kluge said.
Across Europe, 4,500 lives are still lost to the virus every day. So far, Europe has seen 15,738,179 confirmed infections and 354,154 deaths attributed to COVID-19, according to WHO data.
Kluge said Europe accounted for 28 percent of global cases and 26 percent of deaths and expressed particular concern over the situation in Switzerland and France, where intensive care units are at 95 percent capacity.
"Europe is once again the epicenter of the pandemic, together with the United States," he told a news conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, adding that the latest figures showed there was "one person dying every 17 seconds".
Strict restrictions were announced at the end of October across Europe, largely seeing certain businesses closed and gatherings banned or reduced in size. The lockdowns are generally less severe than those implemented during the COVID first wave in the spring, with schools generally remaining open and limits on travel less strict than they were.
A month into its lockdown, France saw its seven-day average for new daily cases cut almost in half, to 28,500. The United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic have also reported a decrease in infections.
The U.K. became the first country in Europe to pass 50,000 deaths, only the fifth country to do so after the United States, Brazil, India, and Mexico. According to the latest figures released by the British government, there are currently 1,453,256 cases in the U.K. and 53,775 people have died within 28 days of a positive test.
The development of vaccines, which train the immune system to fight off the virus, have raised hopes of bringing the pandemic under control. "There is light at the end of the tunnel but it will be a tough six months," Kluge said. At a virtual summit on Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc could approve two vaccines by year's end.
Four vaccines - Oxford, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sputnik, and Moderna - have reported good preliminary data. "We will continue coordinating our efforts to keep citizens informed on vaccination," Von der Leyen said.
Kluge said recent progress on vaccines was promising but did not yet represent "a silver bullet" because "we know the supply will be limited particularly in the beginning". In the meantime, social distancing and wearing a mask remained the best ways to mitigate the spread of the virus, he said.
A woman walks past a closed restaurant in Paris on November 18, 2020, amid a second lockdown in France Thomas Coex/Getty
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock claimed the U.K. could begin a mass rollout of a COVID vaccination alongside flu vaccines "within a matter of weeks". He told Sky News: "Normally 15 million people are vaccinated against flu. This year it will be 30 million – the biggest number in history.
"We hope that we will also have a COVID vaccination program alongside that. It will be a huge effort, but I know that the NHS (National Health Service) is up for it."
EU leaders have come up with a €1.8 trillion ($2.1tn) EU budget until 2027 which includes a €750 billion ($890bn) coronavirus recovery fund. Hungary and Poland have so far blocked approval of the budget, over a clause that ties funding with adherence to the rule of law in the bloc.
Across the continent, thoughts have turned to Christmas, with fears the holiday could be put on hold this year. In Italy, where COVID deaths have already more than doubled in November compared with October, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte warned that the holiday would look very different this year.
"Big parties, kisses, and hugs will not be possible, this would mean an abrupt rise in the [infection] curve in January," he said, adding: "We hope that we can still buy and exchange gifts."
Scientists advising the UK government have raised similar concerns and warned that any break in restrictions to allow people to meet up on Christmas Day could see even tougher rules on mixing brought in for the New Year. Every day that restrictions are lifted will need two days of tighter restrictions as a result, Dr. Susan Hopkins, the government's medical adviser, warned.
Dr. Julian Tang, a clinical virologist at the University of Leicester, previously told Newsweek that a Christmas break will likely see "a surge of cases detectable over the following two to three weeks."


newsweek--2020-11-20--AOC Calls Out Mitch McConnell For Senate's Thanksgiving Break Without Stimulus Deal

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) blasted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) on Friday for granting the Senate a Thanksgiving recess without striking a deal on new COVID-19 relief legislation .
Ocasio-Cortez made the remarks while speaking during a House hearing on Friday .
She said that McConnell was `` abandoning our people '' by allowing the Senate to go on a break on Wednesday , a day earlier than had been expected , while Americans face the `` extraordinary health and economic hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic . ''
`` Just a day or two ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell , decide to break the Senate , '' Ocasio-Cortez said .
`` And he broke the Senate as there are thousands of people in Texas lined up for food lines .
He broke the Senate while hospitals no longer have beds to house the sick .
He broke the Senate , and dismissed the Senate , while 30 million Americans are on the brink of eviction . ''
`` He dismissed the Senate when every single day , when we go back to our communities , people are asking us , 'Where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Is there going to be a second stimulus check ?
Are we going to get the resources that we need ? ''
she continued .
`` The Senate prides itself as one of the most deliberative bodies .
They abandoned them . ''
Ocasio-Cortez added that the CARES Act , which was passed in March , had `` lifted more than 18 million individuals in the United States out of monthly poverty in April alone . ''
She said that 14 million of those went back into poverty after some benefits prescribed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a `` majority of people in the United States are not very confident in their ability to eat in the next four weeks , '' while McConnell had displayed `` unconscionable leadership '' by allowing Senators to take a break for Thanksgiving despite many of their constituents having trouble feeding themselves and their families on the holiday .
`` While we are arguing about negotiations and while we are arguing about points , people are going hungry , '' she said .
`` We are dismissing their needs as 'blue state needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what party you voted for .
Hungry has no party .
Illness has no party . ''
Efforts by both Democrats and Republicans to agree to and pass a follow-up to the CARES Act have repeatedly fallen short during the past eight months .
Both parties have accused the other of obstructing their own efforts .
One sticking point has been unemployment benefits , with Republicans insisting that benefits pay out at a lower rate than what was initially provided in the previous bill .
Approximately half of around 20 million people currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be set to lose their lifeline due to two federal programs expiring on December 26 , according to The Associated Press .
There had been more than 11.7 million cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of Friday , with a record 187,833 new cases added on Thursday , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Over 2,000 deaths were added to a total that exceeds 252,000 since the pandemic began .
On Thursday , Ocasio-Cortez suggested that the government should `` pay people to stay home '' in an attempt to `` get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heated Twitter spats with prominent Republicans including former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-Ga. ) .
Newsweek reached out to McConnell 's office for comment .

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) blasted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Friday for granting the Senate a Thanksgiving recess without striking a deal on new COVID-19 relief legislation.
Ocasio-Cortez made the remarks while speaking during a House hearing on Friday. She said that McConnell was "abandoning our people" by allowing the Senate to go on a break on Wednesday, a day earlier than had been expected, while Americans face the "extraordinary health and economic hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic."
"Just a day or two ago, the Senate majority leader, Senator McConnell, decide to break the Senate," Ocasio-Cortez said. "And he broke the Senate as there are thousands of people in Texas lined up for food lines. He broke the Senate while hospitals no longer have beds to house the sick. He broke the Senate, and dismissed the Senate, while 30 million Americans are on the brink of eviction."
"He dismissed the Senate when every single day, when we go back to our communities, people are asking us, 'Where is there going to be help? Is there going to be a second stimulus check? Are we going to get the resources that we need?" she continued. "The Senate prides itself as one of the most deliberative bodies. They abandoned them."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is pictured walking through the halls of the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. on November 18, 2020. Alex Wong/Getty
Ocasio-Cortez added that the CARES Act, which was passed in March, had "lifted more than 18 million individuals in the United States out of monthly poverty in April alone." She said that 14 million of those went back into poverty after some benefits prescribed by the bill had expired.
Ocasio-Cortez insisted that a "majority of people in the United States are not very confident in their ability to eat in the next four weeks," while McConnell had displayed "unconscionable leadership" by allowing Senators to take a break for Thanksgiving despite many of their constituents having trouble feeding themselves and their families on the holiday.
"While we are arguing about negotiations and while we are arguing about points, people are going hungry," she said. "We are dismissing their needs as 'blue state needs,' or as bailouts depending on what party you voted for. Hungry has no party. Illness has no party."
Efforts by both Democrats and Republicans to agree to and pass a follow-up to the CARES Act have repeatedly fallen short during the past eight months. Both parties have accused the other of obstructing their own efforts. One sticking point has been unemployment benefits, with Republicans insisting that benefits pay out at a lower rate than what was initially provided in the previous bill.
Approximately half of around 20 million people currently receiving unemployment benefits in the U.S. could be set to lose their lifeline due to two federal programs expiring on December 26, according to The Associated Press.
There had been more than 11.7 million cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of Friday, with a record 187,833 new cases added on Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University. Over 2,000 deaths were added to a total that exceeds 252,000 since the pandemic began.
On Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez suggested that the government should "pay people to stay home" in an attempt to "get the virus under control," prompting heated Twitter spats with prominent Republicans including former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.).
Newsweek reached out to McConnell's office for comment.


newsweek--2020-11-20--WWE 'SmackDown' Results: 'Survivor Series' Go-Home Show Happens Tonight

It 's the final WWE show before this year 's Survivor Series and Friday Night SmackDown will see a massive contract signing , and the final participants in Sunday 's show will be determined .
WWE is promoting the contract signing between WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and Universal Champion Roman Reigns .
McIntyre showed up on SmackDown last week , before winning the title back , to let Reigns know who the best champion is .
Now that Drew has the WWE Championship back , he and Roman will be in the same ring again to sign their contracts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Will we see fireworks before their match on Sunday or will Jey Uso insert himself in his cousin 's business again ?
Speaking of Jey , Daniel Bryan is set to return to tonight and take on one half of the Usos tonight .
Jey defeated Bryan in a Survivor Series qualifying match a few weeks ago using shady tactics , and Daniel is looking to get some retribution .
Seth Rollins lost his final match with Rey Mysterio last week thanks to Murphy 's interference .
Now , the `` Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his former disciple tonight .
This Sunday , SmackDown Women 's Champion Sasha Banks will take on RAW Women 's Champion Asuka , but the returning Carmella has given `` The Boss '' fits in recent weeks .
How will Banks respond to Carmella 's attacks and will it distract her from this Sunday 's big match ?
Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins finally know their opponents for Survivor Series .
The New Day retained their RAW Tag Team Championships against The Hurt Business on Monday , which will lead to a massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
How will The Street Profits react and will Big E be involved in the shenanigans ?
Here 's everything that happened on the November 20 episode of Friday Night SmackDown .
• The Street Profits are in the `` champion 's lounge '' hyping up Survivor Series on Sunday including the `` farewell '' of The Undertaker .
• Big E shows up to remind Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins that The Street Profits are getting in the ring with The New Day .
• Street Profits say they are n't afraid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says that Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are on SmackDown tonight before he does his introduction .
• The New Day get in the ring and say that The Street Profits do n't want `` their smoke '' and give their own tribute to The Undertaker by doing `` The Deadman 's '' sit up .
• Sami Zayn interrupts and says that he has beef with The Undertaker after he choke slammed him at Madison Square Garden , but the WWE is protecting him .
• Sami says that he 's ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to prove the Intercontinental Championship is better than the US Championship .
He tells The New Day he 's not here to hurt them .
The New Day start making fun of Sami Zayn when King Corbin interrupts .
• King Corbin says that The New Day had their final match on SmackDown weeks ago and that they do n't belong on his show .
Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode come out next and say that The New Day stole their Tag Team Championship opportunity .
• The New Day ask if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zayn want a title shot .
The heels start arguing when Kofi and Xavier tell them to have a match for the shot .
The heels start to square up , but Ziggler and Roode start attacking The New Day .
• The Street Profits come out and attack the tag team and clear the ring of the heels .
The New Day and The Street Profits vs King Corbin , Sami Zayn , Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode • Montez Ford pins Sami Zayn after the Cash Out • During the match @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could n't get on the same page .
The finish was set up when Zayn was tagged in involuntarily and was n't ready leading to The Street Profits taking advantage .
• Daniel Bryan is talking with Kayla when Sami Zayn comes to the back .
He berates Bryan for laughing at him and gets in his face .
Bryan puts on his face mask and pushes Sami to the floor .
• Sami says if he did n't have a match on Sunday he would make Daniel sorry .
• Bryan is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Jey Uso .
Daniel Bryan says he believes Jey when he says that it was n't personal .
He says he understands because Jey has the devil on his shoulder telling him what to do .
• He says that he knows what happened because • Adam Pearce is talking to someone about being in the SmackDown Men 's Survivor Series team .
He says this person has overcome adversity and that 's why he chooses Otis .
• Otis is shown when Chad Gable tells him that it 's because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Natalya shows up and says that Adam should choose her for the team .
Pearce says he had to choose someone with championship pedigree and he says he chooses Bayley .
• Backstage , Seth talks about everything he 's given Murphy including his girlfriend Aalyah .
He says Murphy will be the one to get what 's coming to him and when he 's done , Murphy will go back to being nothing .
• Bianca Belair is on commentary .
Bayley comes out to join commentary • Natalya wins via @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the match , the rest of the SmackDown women 's team come out although Bianca Belair is hesitant .
• Drew comes out first with Roman coming into the ring and motioning Adam Pearce to move out of the seat that 's at the head of the table .
• Drew tells Roman that he told him he 'd meet him at Survivor Series and now he 's going to prove that he 's the best .
• Roman starts to talk down to Drew .
Calling him the `` secondary champion '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Roman also says that Drew is just the guy the WWE puts in when he ca n't or does n't want to be on the show .
Both men sign the contract and Roman leaves Drew behind .
Seth Rollins vs Murphy ( with the Mysterio Family ) • During the match , Rollins ties up Murphy on the ropes and goes to get a kendo stick .
He says he does n't care if he gets disqualified , but Rey Mysterio stops him .
Seth takes out Rey and Dominick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , Seth throws Murphy off the top rope onto the outside .
• Murphy during the match got his foot on the rope when he took a Stomp .

It's the final WWE show before this year's Survivor Series and Friday Night SmackDown will see a massive contract signing, and the final participants in Sunday's show will be determined.
WWE is promoting the contract signing between WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and Universal Champion Roman Reigns. McIntyre showed up on SmackDown last week, before winning the title back, to let Reigns know who the best champion is.
Now that Drew has the WWE Championship back, he and Roman will be in the same ring again to sign their contracts to make the champion vs champion match official. Will we see fireworks before their match on Sunday or will Jey Uso insert himself in his cousin's business again?
Speaking of Jey, Daniel Bryan is set to return to tonight and take on one half of the Usos tonight. Jey defeated Bryan in a Survivor Series qualifying match a few weeks ago using shady tactics, and Daniel is looking to get some retribution.
Seth Rollins lost his final match with Rey Mysterio last week thanks to Murphy's interference. Now, the "Friday Night Messiah" will go one-on-one with his former disciple tonight.
This Sunday, SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks will take on RAW Women's Champion Asuka, but the returning Carmella has given "The Boss" fits in recent weeks. How will Banks respond to Carmella's attacks and will it distract her from this Sunday's big match?
Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins finally know their opponents for Survivor Series. The New Day retained their RAW Tag Team Championships against The Hurt Business on Monday, which will lead to a massive match between the two teams on Sunday.
How will The Street Profits react and will Big E be involved in the shenanigans?
Here's everything that happened on the November 20 episode of Friday Night SmackDown.
WWE
WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN RESULTS
Opening Segment
The Street Profits are in the "champion's lounge" hyping up Survivor Series on Sunday including the "farewell" of The Undertaker.
Big E shows up to remind Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins that The Street Profits are getting in the ring with The New Day.
Street Profits say they aren't afraid and hype themselves, but Big E says that Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are on SmackDown tonight before he does his introduction.
The New Day get in the ring and say that The Street Profits don't want "their smoke" and give their own tribute to The Undertaker by doing "The Deadman's" sit up.
Sami Zayn interrupts and says that he has beef with The Undertaker after he choke slammed him at Madison Square Garden, but the WWE is protecting him.
Sami says that he's ready for Bobby Lashley on Sunday and is ready to prove the Intercontinental Championship is better than the US Championship. He tells The New Day he's not here to hurt them. The New Day start making fun of Sami Zayn when King Corbin interrupts.
King Corbin says that The New Day had their final match on SmackDown weeks ago and that they don't belong on his show. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode come out next and say that The New Day stole their Tag Team Championship opportunity.
The New Day ask if Ziggler and Roode, and Corbin and Zayn want a title shot. The heels start arguing when Kofi and Xavier tell them to have a match for the shot. The heels start to square up, but Ziggler and Roode start attacking The New Day.
The Street Profits come out and attack the tag team and clear the ring of the heels.
The New Day and The Street Profits vs King Corbin, Sami Zayn, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
Montez Ford pins Sami Zayn after the Cash Out
During the match, The New Day and Street Profits couldn't get on the same page. The finish was set up when Zayn was tagged in involuntarily and wasn't ready leading to The Street Profits taking advantage.
Backstage
Daniel Bryan is talking with Kayla when Sami Zayn comes to the back. He berates Bryan for laughing at him and gets in his face. Bryan puts on his face mask and pushes Sami to the floor.
Sami says if he didn't have a match on Sunday he would make Daniel sorry.
Daniel Bryan Interview
Bryan is shown a clip of his last match with Jey Uso. Daniel Bryan says he believes Jey when he says that it wasn't personal. He says he understands because Jey has the devil on his shoulder telling him what to do.
He says that he knows what happened because
Backstage
Adam Pearce is talking to someone about being in the SmackDown Men's Survivor Series team. He says this person has overcome adversity and that's why he chooses Otis.
Otis is shown when Chad Gable tells him that it's because of their training that got him in.
Natalya shows up and says that Adam should choose her for the team. Pearce says he had to choose someone with championship pedigree and he says he chooses Bayley.
Seth Rollins Promo
Backstage, Seth talks about everything he's given Murphy including his girlfriend Aalyah. He says Murphy will be the one to get what's coming to him and when he's done, Murphy will go back to being nothing.
Natalya vs Tamina - Survivor Series Qualifying Match
Bianca Belair is on commentary. Bayley comes out to join commentary
Natalya wins via submission after the Sharpshooter.
After the match, the rest of the SmackDown women's team come out although Bianca Belair is hesitant.
Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns Contract Signing
Drew comes out first with Roman coming into the ring and motioning Adam Pearce to move out of the seat that's at the head of the table.
Drew tells Roman that he told him he'd meet him at Survivor Series and now he's going to prove that he's the best.
Roman starts to talk down to Drew. Calling him the "secondary champion" and his "favorite #2." Roman also says that Drew is just the guy the WWE puts in when he can't or doesn't want to be on the show. Both men sign the contract and Roman leaves Drew behind.
Seth Rollins vs Murphy (with the Mysterio Family)
During the match, Rollins ties up Murphy on the ropes and goes to get a kendo stick. He says he doesn't care if he gets disqualified, but Rey Mysterio stops him. Seth takes out Rey and Dominick, but Murphy gets out and attacks. However, Seth throws Murphy off the top rope onto the outside.
Murphy wins via pinfall after a Murphy's Law.
Murphy during the match got his foot on the rope when he took a Stomp.
Sasha Banks and Asuka Segment
Sasha and Asuka are in the ring together. Michael Cole brings up how Sasha beat her for the RAW title, which leads to the two women going back and forth.
Sasha eventually takes off her shoes and tells her that they don't have to wait for Sunday. Carmella comes from behind and hits Sasha from behind and beats her down while Asuka just looks on. Carmella leaves Sasha in a heap.
Backstage
Jey Uso is asked about Daniel Bryan. Jey says he put Daniel Bryan through that table because he wanted to and the only devil is in his head, and that devil is only telling him to go "get him."
Daniel Bryan vs Jey Uso


newsweek--2020-11-20--President-elect Joe Biden Asks Public to Fund Transition as Trump Refuses to Concede

As President Donald Trump continued to block President-elect Joe Biden 's incoming administration , Biden turned to social media on Friday to ask Americans to donate to his transition efforts .
Trump 's refusal to concede has prevented Biden 's camp from obtaining access to Congressional funding , workspace in federal buildings and some classified information .
Biden has moved forward with preparations for his presidency , including announcing some members of his cabinet .
According to a Friday tweet , Biden 's transition teams are in need of funds .
`` Here 's the deal , '' Biden tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concede and is delaying the transition , we have to fund it ourselves and need your help . ''
Embedded in Biden 's tweet was a link to a donation site .
Federal funding earmarked to aid the transition process has been delayed by the General Services Administration ( GSA ) which has thus far refused to recognize Biden 's victory in the election .
Roughly $ 10 billion has been withheld from Biden 's team until the GSA ascertains an official winner .
The GSA also has prevented Biden 's transition teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtaining official government email addresses and meeting with officials who could assist with the transition .
Despite the Trump administration 's blocking of the transition , some social media users criticized Biden 's request for donations .
`` Borrow the money , '' tweeted actor Kirk Acevedo .
`` The average American ca n't afford it . ''
`` Such a cynical scam , '' journalist Benjamin Norton tweeted .
`` Joe Biden 's transition team is full of bankers and corporate shills and his campaign is supported by some of the richest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` But he wants average people to think he `` needs help '' and is begging for their money , '' Norton continued .
`` Sick . ''
`` This is unbelievable , '' tweeted television writer and producer Akilah Green .
`` Please delete and apologize . ''
Newsweek reached out to the Biden transition team for comment .
In a Thursday press conference , Biden said that Trump 's refusal to concede would cement his legacy as `` one of the most irresponsible presidents in American history . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are as a country , '' Biden added .
Since the election , Trump has stated several times that he was the true winner of the election .
During remarks on the lowering of drug prices at the White House on Friday , Trump claimed that large pharmaceutical companies `` ran millions of dollars of negative advertisements against me during the campaign—which I won , by the way .
But , you know , we 'll find that out .
Almost 74 million votes . ''
Although final results have yet to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 73 million votes in the election , which is more votes than any other sitting president in U.S. history has received .
So far , Biden has received over 79 million popular votes .

As President Donald Trump continued to block President-elect Joe Biden's incoming administration, Biden turned to social media on Friday to ask Americans to donate to his transition efforts.
Trump's refusal to concede has prevented Biden's camp from obtaining access to Congressional funding, workspace in federal buildings and some classified information. Biden has moved forward with preparations for his presidency, including announcing some members of his cabinet. According to a Friday tweet, Biden's transition teams are in need of funds.
"Here's the deal," Biden tweeted. "Because President Trump refuses to concede and is delaying the transition, we have to fund it ourselves and need your help." Embedded in Biden's tweet was a link to a donation site.
Here's the deal: Because President Trump refuses to concede and is delaying the transition, we have to fund it ourselves and need your help.
If you're able, chip in to help fund the Biden-Harris transition. https://t.co/apJMrdpoSS — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 20, 2020
Federal funding earmarked to aid the transition process has been delayed by the General Services Administration (GSA) which has thus far refused to recognize Biden's victory in the election. Roughly $10 billion has been withheld from Biden's team until the GSA ascertains an official winner. The GSA also has prevented Biden's transition teams and members of his incoming cabinet from obtaining official government email addresses and meeting with officials who could assist with the transition.
President-elect Joe Biden asked for donations on Friday to help fund his incoming administration's transition efforts. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty
Despite the Trump administration's blocking of the transition, some social media users criticized Biden's request for donations.
"Borrow the money," tweeted actor Kirk Acevedo. "The average American can't afford it."
Borrow the money.
The average American can’t afford it. — Kirk Acevedo🇺🇸 (@kirkacevedo) November 20, 2020
"Such a cynical scam," journalist Benjamin Norton tweeted. "Joe Biden's transition team is full of bankers and corporate shills and his campaign is supported by some of the richest billionaires and biggest corporations on Earth."
"But he wants average people to think he "needs help" and is begging for their money," Norton continued. "Sick."
Such a cynical scam. Joe Biden's transition team is full of bankers and corporate shills and his campaign is supported by some of the richest billionaires and biggest corporations on Earth.
But he wants average people to think he "needs help" and is begging for their money. Sick https://t.co/fTB8snLvcF — Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) November 20, 2020
"This is unbelievable," tweeted television writer and producer Akilah Green. "Please delete and apologize."
This is unbelievable. Please delete and apologize. — Akilah Green (@akilahgreen) November 20, 2020
Newsweek reached out to the Biden transition team for comment.
In a Thursday press conference, Biden said that Trump's refusal to concede would cement his legacy as "one of the most irresponsible presidents in American history."
"It sends a horrible message about who we are as a country," Biden added.
Since the election, Trump has stated several times that he was the true winner of the election. During remarks on the lowering of drug prices at the White House on Friday, Trump claimed that large pharmaceutical companies "ran millions of dollars of negative advertisements against me during the campaign—which I won, by the way. But, you know, we'll find that out. Almost 74 million votes."
Although final results have yet to be tallied, Trump received more than 73 million votes in the election, which is more votes than any other sitting president in U.S. history has received. So far, Biden has received over 79 million popular votes.


newsweek--2020-11-20--After Trump Meeting, Michigan Lawmakers Stand Firm on Election Outcome

After a meeting with President Donald Trump on Friday , two high-ranking Michigan GOP lawmakers said they would not appoint Republican-friendly electors in an attempt to flip the state for Trump .
Despite a widely projected win for Democrat President-elect Joe Biden , Trump has refused to concede and claimed repeatedly that he , not Biden , actually won the election .
After mounting several legal challenges to state elections , some observers feared that Trump would attempt to change the rules of the Electoral College by asking state legislators to choose electors who would cast their votes against Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invited Michigan Republican House Speaker Lee Chatfield and Michigan Republican Majority Leader Mike Shirkey to a Friday meeting at the White House .
The meeting between Trump and the Michigan Republicans was not listed on the president 's schedule of daily events .
In a joint statement released after the meeting , Shirkey and Chatfield indicated that no electoral changes would be made .
`` We have not yet been made aware of any information that would change the outcome of the election in Michigan and as legislative leaders , '' the statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law and follow the normal process regarding Michigan 's electors , just as we have said throughout this election . ''
`` The candidates who win the most votes win elections and Michigan 's electoral votes , '' the statement added .
`` These are simple truths that should provide confidence in our elections . ''
Newsweek reached out to the Michigan Democratic Party for comment .
On Thursday , anonymous sources disclosed to Reuters that Trump was expected to ask state legislators to change the rules concerning the appointment of electors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and secretaries of state .
Trump 's legal team indicated that Trump was hoping to shift that responsibility from state government leaders to local Republican-friendly leadership .
According to the Associated Press , Biden won Michigan with 50.6 percent of the vote to Trump 's 47.8 percent .
Michigan holds 16 electoral votes .
In Wayne County , Michigan 's largest county , two Republicans on the Board of Canvassers went back and forth on agreeing to certify the county 's election results .
First , they voted against certification , resulting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats .
After hearing public comments , the Republicans recanted and voted for the election certification .
On Thursday , they attempted to rescind their votes .
However , the deadline for ballot certification in Wayne County expired on Wednesday .
Trump 's legal team had filed suit to prevent certification in Wayne County .
The lawsuit was predicated on the fact that the Board of Canvassers had elected not to certify the votes , which turned out to be inaccurate .
On Thursday , the campaign dropped the lawsuit .

After a meeting with President Donald Trump on Friday, two high-ranking Michigan GOP lawmakers said they would not appoint Republican-friendly electors in an attempt to flip the state for Trump.
Despite a widely projected win for Democrat President-elect Joe Biden, Trump has refused to concede and claimed repeatedly that he, not Biden, actually won the election. After mounting several legal challenges to state elections, some observers feared that Trump would attempt to change the rules of the Electoral College by asking state legislators to choose electors who would cast their votes against Biden.
Those worries were amplified when Trump invited Michigan Republican House Speaker Lee Chatfield and Michigan Republican Majority Leader Mike Shirkey to a Friday meeting at the White House. The meeting between Trump and the Michigan Republicans was not listed on the president's schedule of daily events.
In a joint statement released after the meeting, Shirkey and Chatfield indicated that no electoral changes would be made.
"We have not yet been made aware of any information that would change the outcome of the election in Michigan and as legislative leaders," the statement read, "we will follow the law and follow the normal process regarding Michigan's electors, just as we have said throughout this election."
President Donald Trump, who has refused to concede the election, met with two GOP lawmakers from Michigan on Friday. Tasos Katopodis/Getty
"The candidates who win the most votes win elections and Michigan's electoral votes," the statement added. "These are simple truths that should provide confidence in our elections."
Newsweek reached out to the Michigan Democratic Party for comment.
On Thursday, anonymous sources disclosed to Reuters that Trump was expected to ask state legislators to change the rules concerning the appointment of electors. Traditionally, electors are chosen by governors and secretaries of state. Trump's legal team indicated that Trump was hoping to shift that responsibility from state government leaders to local Republican-friendly leadership.
According to the Associated Press, Biden won Michigan with 50.6 percent of the vote to Trump's 47.8 percent. Michigan holds 16 electoral votes.
In Wayne County, Michigan's largest county, two Republicans on the Board of Canvassers went back and forth on agreeing to certify the county's election results. First, they voted against certification, resulting in a deadlock with the board's two Democrats. After hearing public comments, the Republicans recanted and voted for the election certification. On Thursday, they attempted to rescind their votes. However, the deadline for ballot certification in Wayne County expired on Wednesday.
Trump's legal team had filed suit to prevent certification in Wayne County. The lawsuit was predicated on the fact that the Board of Canvassers had elected not to certify the votes, which turned out to be inaccurate. On Thursday, the campaign dropped the lawsuit.


newsweek--2020-11-20--Donald Trump Jr. Tests Positive for Coronavirus, Is In Quarantine

Donald Trump Jr. has tested positive for COVID-19 and has isolated himself at his cabin , becoming the latest person closely associated with President Donald Trump to contract the virus .
The president 's son received a positive test result earlier in the week and is currently in quarantine , following guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent additional infections .
The news was first reported by Bloomberg .
`` Don tested positive at the start of the week and has been quarantining out at his cabin since the result , '' a Trump Jr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` He 's been completely asymptomatic so far and is following all medically recommended COVID-19 guidelines . ''
Prior to Trump Jr. 's test result , his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle tested positive for the virus over the summer , while several family members including the president himself , first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron Trump tested positive in October .
A recent outbreak of COVID-19 has seen White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows , Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski and Trump legal aide David Bossie , among others , contract the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Fox News ' The Ingraham Angle , Trump Jr. insisted that the virus was under `` control '' despite case numbers increasing and a rising death toll , claiming that deaths had fallen to `` almost nothing '' on a day when the U.S. reported over 1,000 had passed away due to the virus .
`` The number is almost nothing because we 've gotten control of this thing , '' Trump Jr. said on October 29 .
`` We understand how it works ...
It 's gone to almost nothing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ way , so well because we 've gotten ahold of this . ''
`` The rising case numbers are because they 're testing more , '' he added .
Andrew Giuliani , the son of Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani , was also reported to have tested positive and was experiencing `` mild symptoms '' on Friday .
The diagnosis prompted concerns that most or all of the president 's legal team could have also been exposed to the virus as they continue to attempt to overturn President-elect Joe Biden 's election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11.7 million cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. by Friday , along with over 252,000 related deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Records have been continually broken amid the latest surge of the pandemic , reaching an all-time high of 187,833 new cases on Thursday .
More than 2,000 new deaths were also reported on Thursday , while rapidly increasing hospitalization numbers have prompted concerns from medical workers that the health care system may not be able to handle further cases .

Donald Trump Jr. has tested positive for COVID-19 and has isolated himself at his cabin, becoming the latest person closely associated with President Donald Trump to contract the virus.
The president's son received a positive test result earlier in the week and is currently in quarantine, following guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent additional infections. The news was first reported by Bloomberg.
"Don tested positive at the start of the week and has been quarantining out at his cabin since the result," a Trump Jr. spokesman told Newsweek in a statement. "He's been completely asymptomatic so far and is following all medically recommended COVID-19 guidelines."
Donald J. Trump, Jr., son of President Donald Trump, tested positive for coronavirus this week, according to a spokesperson. Donald Kravitz/Getty
Prior to Trump Jr.'s test result, his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle tested positive for the virus over the summer, while several family members including the president himself, first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron Trump tested positive in October.
A recent outbreak of COVID-19 has seen White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski and Trump legal aide David Bossie, among others, contract the virus.
During a late October appearance on Fox News' The Ingraham Angle, Trump Jr. insisted that the virus was under "control" despite case numbers increasing and a rising death toll, claiming that deaths had fallen to "almost nothing" on a day when the U.S. reported over 1,000 had passed away due to the virus.
"The number is almost nothing because we've gotten control of this thing," Trump Jr. said on October 29. "We understand how it works... It's gone to almost nothing. We're outperforming Europe in a positive way, so well because we've gotten ahold of this."
"The rising case numbers are because they're testing more," he added.
Andrew Giuliani, the son of Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, was also reported to have tested positive and was experiencing "mild symptoms" on Friday.
The diagnosis prompted concerns that most or all of the president's legal team could have also been exposed to the virus as they continue to attempt to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's election win.
There had been more than 11.7 million cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. by Friday, along with over 252,000 related deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Records have been continually broken amid the latest surge of the pandemic, reaching an all-time high of 187,833 new cases on Thursday.
More than 2,000 new deaths were also reported on Thursday, while rapidly increasing hospitalization numbers have prompted concerns from medical workers that the health care system may not be able to handle further cases.