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Deese Will Be Biden’s Top Economic Adviser

December 3, 2020 at 12:19 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President-elect Joe Biden has officially selected Brian Deese, who played a leading role in bailing out the automotive industry and negotiating the Paris climate agreement under President Barack Obama, to head the National Economic Council,” the New York Times reports.

“The appointment, which does not require Senate confirmation, highlights Mr. Biden’s plans to use economic policy initiatives to drive climate policy. It also defies pre-emptive criticism from some environmental groups, who have targeted Mr. Deese for his work in recent years as the sustainability director for asset-management giant BlackRock.”

McConnell Says Relief Deal ‘Within Reach’

December 3, 2020 at 11:20 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said Thursday that he has seen “hopeful signs” toward Congress striking a coronavirus stimulus deal before the end of the year, CNBC reports.

Said McConnell: “Compromise is within reach. We know where we agree. We can do this.”

Maloney to Lead House Democrats’ Campaign Arm

December 3, 2020 at 11:16 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) won the contest to lead the House Democrats’ campaign arm in the next Congress, defeating Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) for the tough job of steering the party into what promises to be a difficult midterm cycle in 2022, The Hill reports.

The secret ballot, conducted remotely during a caucus call, was a close 119-107.

Democrats Hold Edge In Georgia Runoffs

December 3, 2020 at 10:18 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new SurveyUSA poll in Georgia finds Jon Ossoff (D) leading Sen. David Perdue (R) in their U.S. Senate runoff, 50% to 48%.

In the other U.S. Senate runoff, Raphael Warnock (D) leads Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R), 52% to 45%.

Trump Had ‘Contentious’ Meeting with Barr

December 3, 2020 at 10:11 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump and Attorney General William Barr had a “contentious,” lengthy meeting inside the West Wing this week after Barr told The Associated Press that the Justice Department had uncovered no evidence of fraud that would change the election outcome, CNN reports.

How Did the Political Science Forecasters Do?

December 3, 2020 at 10:09 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Alan Ambrowitz looks at 10 forecasts of the national popular vote and seven forecasts of the electoral vote by prominent political science forecasters.

“When averaged and examined as a group, the forecasts came quite close to the actual election results, predicting that President Trump would receive 237 electoral votes and 47.9% of the two-party popular vote. (It now appears that Trump will actually receive 232 electoral votes and very close to 47.8% of the two-party popular vote.)”

“However, the fact that the averages of these popular and electoral predictions were quite accurate conceals the extremely wide variation in the accuracy of the individual forecasts.”

Fauci to Meet with Biden Transition Team

December 3, 2020 at 9:48 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Dr. Anthony Fauci told CBS News that he will meet with members of President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team on Thursday to discuss the incoming administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mystery Hackers Hit Vaccine Distribution Operation

December 3, 2020 at 9:45 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“A series of cyberattacks is underway aimed at the companies and government organizations that will be distributing coronavirus vaccines around the world, though it is unclear whether the goal is to steal the technology for keeping the vaccines refrigerated in transit or to sabotage the movements,” the New York Times reports.

Ex-Presidents Will Get Vaccine Publicly

December 3, 2020 at 9:42 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are volunteering to get their Covid-19 vaccines on camera to promote public confidence in the vaccine’s safety once the US Food and Drug Administration authorizes one,” CNN reports.

Jonathan Bernstein: Biden needs to depoliticize vaccinations.

Trump Expected to Flex Pardon Powers

December 3, 2020 at 9:29 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Advocates and lawyers anticipate a flurry of clemency action from President Donald Trump in the coming weeks that could test the limits of presidential pardon power,” the AP reports.

“Trump is said to be considering a slew of pardons and commutations before he leaves office, including potentially members of his family, former aides and even himself. While it is not unusual for presidents to sign controversial pardons on their way out the door, Trump has made clear that he has no qualms about intervening in the cases of friends and allies whom he believes have been treated unfairly, including his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.”

Flynn Calls on Trump to Suspend Constitution

December 3, 2020 at 8:20 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“With a fresh presidential pardon still warm, former national security advisor Michael Flynn has called on Donald Trump to suspend the constitution and declare martial law for the military to run a new election,” The Independent reports.

Los Angeles Hospitals Near Tipping Point

December 3, 2020 at 8:16 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued an order for residents to stay at home, warning that the city is approaching a ‘devastating tipping point’ in its fight against Covid-19 that would overwhelm the hospital system,” Bloomberg reports.

Trump’s Attacks Put Elections Officials at Risk

December 3, 2020 at 7:44 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Intensifying attacks on the integrity of the vote by President Trump and his allies are fueling deep alarm among state and local officials, who have watched with dread in recent weeks as election workers have been targeted by fast-spreading conspiracy theories,” the Washington Post reports.

Bid to Exclude Immigrants from Census Appears Doomed

December 3, 2020 at 7:41 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Trump’s determined effort to exclude undocumented immigrants from the 2020 census has been thwarted at every turn — by the courts, the coronavirus, the Constitution, and now by the clock,” The Week reports.

“Census Bureau documents released Wednesday by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee suggest that the final apportionment count won’t be delivered to the president until at least Jan. 23, three days after President-elect Joe Biden takes office, because of at least 15 data anomalies affecting more than a million census records.”

GOP Control to Linger Over Agency Key to Climate

December 3, 2020 at 7:38 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Biden administration will take over the executive branch on Jan. 20, but the new president won’t have a Democratic majority on an independent commission that holds significant sway over one of his top priorities, a cleaner electric grid, until after June 30,” Roll Call reports.

“That’s because the Senate this week approved by voice vote a bipartisan pair of Trump administration nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission — which oversees energy markets, the electric grid, natural gas pipelines and large power projects like wind farms — leaving it with a 3-2 Republican majority until June 30, when the term of Neil Chatterjee, a GOP commissioner, expires.”

Trump Trip to Georgia Has GOP on Edge

December 3, 2020 at 7:33 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Trump’s planned trip to Georgia on Saturday to campaign for two Senate candidates embroiled in tight runoff races has put some Republicans on edge that he could do more harm than good by repeating false claims about the voting system, attacking GOP officials and further inflaming a simmering civil war within the state party,” the Washington Post reports.

“That war showed no signs of abating this week, with competing GOP factions growing increasingly angry and distrustful of one another.”

Los Angeles Times: Tumult in Georgia signals Trump’s post-presidency challenge for GOP.

Trump’s Grievances Feed Menacing Undertow

December 3, 2020 at 6:35 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The last throes of Donald Trump’s presidency have turned ugly — even dangerous. Death threats are on the rise. Local and state election officials are being hounded into hiding. A Trump campaign lawyer is declaring publicly that a federal official who defended the integrity of the election should be ‘drawn and quartered’ or simply shot,” the AP reports.

“Neutral public servants, Democrats and a growing number of Republicans who won’t do what Trump wants are being caught in a menacing postelection undertow stirred by Trump’s grievances about the election he lost.”

Senate GOP Warns Biden on Cabinet Picks

December 3, 2020 at 6:33 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Joe Biden is facing dueling headwinds as he looks to fill out his Cabinet: Senate Republicans want the President-elect to consult with them and choose nominees who could win their support, while liberal Democrats are pushing him to name progressives who could shape the policies of his government,” CNN reports.

“And Republicans, if they keep control of the chamber, are not committing to scheduling votes on nominees they consider out of the mainstream, nor are they vowing to quickly let Biden’s picks get confirmed in the first days of his administration despite the private and public lobbying by top Democrats.”