Trump’s sway over his supporters means he will be an albatross around Republicans’ necks whether or not he runs in 2024
For Republican leaders it was, perhaps, the worst of all possible worlds.
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US poll chaos is a boon for the enemies of democracy the whole world over
While Democrats and Republicans squabble in Washington, injustice and violence reigns from Palestine to Mozambique
Believe it or not, the world did not stop turning on its axis because of the US election and ensuing, self-indulgent disputes in the land of the free-for-all. In the age of Donald Trump, narcissism spreads like the plague.
But the longer the wrangling in Washington continues, the greater the collateral damage to America’s global reputation – and to less fortunate states and peoples who rely on the US and the western allies to fly the flag for democracy and freedom.
Continue reading...Arrests in Washington as Trump supporters assemble, rejecting Biden victory
Counter-demonstrators clash with Maga groups that echo president’s baseless claims of fraud
Donald Trump continued to rage against the dying light of his US presidency on Saturday, falsely claiming to be the victim of mass voter fraud and praising rightwingers and conspiracy theorists who gathered in Washington to echo his fabrication.
Trump emerged from the White House to applause, cheers, waving and whistles from hundreds of supporters lining both sides of the street. They punched the air, took pictures with phones and held signs that included “Best prez ever” and “Stop the steal”.
Continue reading...Judge rules Daca suspension invalid, Homeland Security head in office illegally
Chad Wolf took office unlawfully, says federal court judge, therefore could not suspend program that shields young people from deportation
A federal judge in New York has ruled that the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf, assumed his position unlawfully and has invalidated Wolf’s suspension of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) program, which shields young people from deportation.
“DHS failed to follow the order of succession as it was lawfully designated,” the US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis wrote.
Continue reading...Driving Mr Donald – White House excursion reveals a presidency pushing up daisies
From the motorcade, leaving Washington, it was clear how Trump thrives on a noisy minority’s support – and why he lost
It was a jarring few minutes of seeing the world through Donald Trump’s eyes and indulging his fantasies.
Related: Trump supporters gather in Washington as president refuses to concede to Biden
Continue reading...Trump supporters rally in Washington as president refuses to concede – live
- Trump comes close to admitting defeat but stops short of concession
- Is Biden walking into a Republican trap?
- Georgia Senate runoffs battle is already on
- US sees record 184,000 new daily Covid cases
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Joe Biden is reportedly poised to choose a woman to lead the Pentagon, an historic decision.
The president-elect’s expected selection, Michele Flournoy, is described by the Associated Press as a “a politically moderate Pentagon veteran … regarded by US officials and political insiders as a top choice for the position.”
Out of his bunker for a second straight day, Donald Trump made a deliberate pass by his supporters in town for today’s Maga rallies in his presidential motorcade before veering off toward Trump National in Sterling, Virginia.
More details from the White House pool report:
POTUS emerged from the south portico at 10am wearing a red hat, blue jacket and blue trousers. He appeared to be holding a newspaper. He got inside the presidential limousine and the motorcade headed out to Pennsylvania Avenue.
It was greeted by applause, cheers, waving and whistles from hundreds of Trump supporters lining both sides of the street. They punched the air, took pictures with phones and held signs that included ‘Best prez ever’ and ‘Stop the steal’.
Continue reading...US sees record 184,000 new daily Covid cases as Trump politicises vaccine effort
Deaths increase as states implement new social restrictions and president threatens not to deliver vaccines to New York
The US set yet another daily record for new coronavirus cases on Friday, topping 184,000, while Donald Trump promised imminent distribution of a vaccine – except to New York, which he threatened to leave out for political reasons – and the president-elect, Joe Biden, pleaded with Americans to follow basic mitigation measures.
Related: 'Failure is not an option': Biden's Covid taskforce ready to step up
Continue reading...Donald Trump comes close to admitting defeat but stops short – video
Donald Trump appeared to come close to acknowledging Joe Biden's election victory in a Rose Garden press conference.
Discussing the possibility of a national lockdown, the president said: 'Whatever happens in the future, who knows which administration it will be, I guess time will tell ... this administration will not go to a lockdown.'
Donald Trump has refused to concede to the president-elect, instead making false claims of mass voter fraud
Continue reading...‘Failure is not an option’: Biden’s Covid taskforce ready to step up
Advisory board set up by president-elect to play high-profile role as pandemic enters its deadliest phase so far
President-elect Joe Biden has set up a 13-member coronavirus advisory board will play a high-profile role in helping the Biden-Harris administration contain the coronavirus pandemic in the US as it enters its deadliest phase so far.
Related: Officials condemn Trump's false claims and say election 'most secure in US history'
Continue reading...‘They know their vote matters’: the Georgia Senate runoffs battle is already on
Trump’s defeat in the reliably red state has shown Democratic voters the power of their ballot, activists say as they focus on Ossoff and Warnock’s races
Donald Trump may have forced a recount of the votes in Georgia that helped end his presidency, but the activists who organised the surge in turnout that helped defeat him have already turned their attention to two elections that will decide who controls the US Senate and the course of Joe Biden’s presidency.
Tens of millions of dollars are pouring in to the Georgia runoff races, which can be expected to draw Biden back to the campaign trail as voters have the opportunity to make history by defeating the state’s two Republican senators to give the new president control of both houses of Congress.
Continue reading...Trump repeats false Covid claims and attacks New York governor Cuomo in first remarks since election loss – live
- President says: ‘This administration will not be going to a lockdown’
- Biden says coronavirus surge requires ‘urgent action
- Trump law firm pulls out of Pennsylvania election case
- US sets another single-day record with 153,496 Covid cases
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Congressional dinner shifts to to-go meals after outrage
The dinner for new members of Congress being held by Democrats will be modified, shifting to a to-go food model, after outrage over an indoor meal, said Nancy Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill on Friday evening.
Pelosi and other Congress members slammed for holding indoor dinner during pandemic
Congress members are being hit with intense blowback for holding indoor banquets as the coronavirus pandemic worsens and health experts advise Americans against social gatherings.
House Dem and GOP leaders are holding respective dinners for new members.
.@SpeakerPelosi told me it’s safe. “It’s very spaced,” she said and there is enhanced ventilation and the Capitol physician signed off. pic.twitter.com/ZXjf72lnrP
Cancel this event, @SpeakerPelosi — it sets a deadly example while COVID is the worst it's ever been. https://t.co/7HTzFVlhBg
Imagine telling families not to hold Thanksgiving (we shouldn’t) and then doing this. Come. On. https://t.co/ws9k2QDBLU
California, among other states, is begging people not to travel for Thanksgiving, and counties — including Pelosi's district — are shutting down all indoor dining.
This needs to be moved outside, at least. Even if it can be made safe indoors, it's a terrible example. https://t.co/2nabkx5QpZ
Trump comes close to admitting defeat but stops short of formal concession
- Trump makes first public remarks since weekend election loss
- Seemed to be on verge of acknowledging Biden’s victory
Donald Trump has come closer than ever to admitting that he lost the US presidential election, suggesting “time will tell” but stopping short of a formal concession to president-elect Joe Biden.
Related: Joe Biden ignores Trump obstruction to press ahead with cabinet selection
Continue reading...US officials warn of tens of thousands more Covid deaths in coming weeks
- CDC warning comes amid threat of PPE and bed shortages
- New coronavirus cases increase with 150,000 on Thursday
Government health officials have warned that tens of thousands of Americans will die in the coming weeks as coronavirus continued to surge across the country, shattering more daily records.
Related: Coronavirus live news: Germany, Sweden and Russia all report record rises in daily cases
Continue reading...Who might figure in Joe Biden’s cabinet? Six names tipped for top jobs
Susan Rice, Michele Flournoy, Doug Jones, Lael Brainard, Vivek Murthy and Heidi Heitkamp are some of the most frequently mentioned in Washington
Cabinet appointment speculation is a time-honored tradition in Washington DC – and despite everything else going on is US politics at the moment, 2020 is no different.
Continue reading...Joe Biden ignores Trump obstruction to press ahead with cabinet selection
The president-elect is likely to value Washington experience but must balance the wings of his party and a possibly hostile Senate
Joe Biden’s team is pressing forward with preparations to take over the federal government when his term starts despite virtually no help from Donald Trump’s outgoing administration.
Continue reading...‘It’s not over yet, right?’ Trump voters back president’s refusal to concede
Loyalty from president’s base remains undimmed, amid belief that political establishment is colluding to deny him victory
The red and blue political bunting and yard signs planted on suburban lawns are mostly gone and with them the outward signs of America’s fiercely oppositional election. But in other respects, the tensions of the 2020 contest remain as acute as they were on polling day for many Trump supporters.
“Not many care about people as much as Trump,” said tow-truck driver Vinny Nolan as he took a rest at a highway truck stop near Hackensack, New Jersey. “The [Russia] collusion bullshit was a set-up. He gave everyone money while we iron this virus situation then they announce a vaccine two days after the election. Why didn’t they do that a week ago? He would have won.”
Continue reading...Donald Trump attacks Fox News: ‘They forgot the golden goose’
President turns to right-wing network Newsmax for support after Fox warned viewers Trump’s election victory claims were false
Donald Trump has unleashed a torrent of tweets denouncing Fox News, accusing the network of having forgotten “what made them successful, what got them there”.
“They forgot the Golden Goose,” Trump wrote in a tweet posted at midday on Thursday:
Continue reading...Mark Zuckerberg defends not suspending Steve Bannon from Facebook
CEO told staffers Bannon had not violated enough policies to justify ban when he called for beheading of Anthony Fauci
Mark Zuckerberg told Facebook staffers on Thursday that former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon had not violated enough of the company’s policies to justify his suspension from the platform when he called for the beheading of two US officials and the posting of their heads outside the White House as a “warning”.
Continue reading...Nancy Pelosi tells Republicans to ‘stop the circus’ as Trump still refuses to concede – live
- House speaker says Republicans ‘refusing to accept reality’
- Fauci says national lockdown not necessary because of vaccines
- November on track to be worst month of pandemic so far in US
- Biden names Ron Klain, Obama’s Ebola tsar, as chief of staff
- What will Mike Pence do next after Trump’s election loss?
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Pope blesses president-elect
Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis on Thursday, and Biden thanked him for his “blessing and congratulations,” his transition team said in a statement.
Related: Soul of the nation: how Joe Biden's faith will shape his presidency
Here’s where the day stands so far:
Continue reading...Nancy Pelosi accuses Republicans of ‘refusing to accept reality’ over election result – video
The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, held a press conference on Capitol Hill, calling on Republican lawmakers to accept the results of the presidential election.
Pelosi emphasised the need to pass another coronavirus relief bill, saying: 'Stop the circus and get to work on what really matters to the American people'
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