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Supreme Court's Pennsylvania mail ballot ruling tees up test for Barrett | TheHill - The Hill

Voting rights advocates expressed cautious optimism after the Supreme...

Voting rights advocates expressed cautious optimism after the Supreme Court on Monday left intact Pennsylvanias mail-ballot extension, but their enthusiasm was tempered by concerns over how the court will approach potential future election disputes. The courts 4-4 deadlock, which let stand a Pennsylvania court ruling, was a major victory for Democratic nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenNearly 300 former national security officials sign Biden endorsement letterTrump narrows Biden's lead in Pennsylvania: poll Florida breaks first-day early voting record with 350K ballots castMORE, at least for now. Polls have shown Bidens backers are twice as likely to vote by mail than supporters of President TrumpDonald John TrumpNearly 300 former national security officials sign Biden endorsement letterDC correspondent on the death of Michael Reinoehl: 'The folks I know in law enforcement are extremely angry about it'Late night hosts targeted Trump over Biden 97 percent of the time in September: studyMORE, who won the Keystone State in 2016 by fewer than 45,000 votes. But in a worrying sign for Democrats and their allies, the Supreme Courts stalemate broke largely along ideological lines, which are expected to grow more lopsided next week with the seating of Amy Coney BarrettAmy Coney BarrettSenate GOP eyes Oct. 26 for confirming Barrett to Supreme CourtGOP blocks Schumer effort to adjourn Senate until after electionOvernight Defense: Supreme Court to hear case on diversion of Pentagon funds to border wall | Biden campaign cutting retired general from ad after objection | Trump's arms control talks with Russia hit wallMORE. The Monday ruling saw Chief Justice John Roberts join the courts three liberals, while the courts four most conservative justices Clarence ThomasClarence ThomasSupreme Court denies GOP bid to block extended mail ballot due date in PennsylvaniaLeading progressive group to launch pro-Biden ads in Arizona, PennsylvaniaGovernment efforts to 'fix' social media bias overlooks the destruction of our discourseMORE, Samuel AlitoSamuel AlitoSupreme Court denies GOP bid to block extended mail ballot due date in PennsylvaniaThe politics of originalismDemocrats aim to paint Barrett as 'extreme'MORE, Neil GorsuchNeil GorsuchSupreme Court denies GOP bid to block extended mail ballot due date in PennsylvaniaJudge Barrett's hearing: Democratic senators left holding an empty sack The politics of originalismMORE and Brett KavanaughBrett Michael KavanaughSupreme Court denies GOP bid to block extended mail ballot due date in PennsylvaniaBiden and Schumer face battles with left if Democrats win bigMajor abortion rights group calls for Democrats to replace Feinstein on Judiciary CommitteeMORE indicated that they would have overruled the Pennsylvania court to reinstate a strict Nov. 3 due date for mail ballots. The tie vote leaves in place the Pennsylvania Supreme Courts ruling that mail ballots will be counted as long as they are postmarked by Nov. 3 or have no legible postmark and received up to three days after Election Day. Yet even if Roberts and the liberal justices remain united on voting rights issues, which is far from certain, those justices would be outnumbered if Barrett aligns herself with the courts conservative wing after her likely confirmation next week. Thats left voting rights groups chastened. Nicole Austin-Hillery, executive director of the U.S. Program at Human Rights Watch, applauded the preservation of Pennsylvanias mail voting extension but called the conservative justices dissenting view disturbing. [It] portends a future court in which states efforts to respect the right to vote may be undermined, she said. Some GOP election lawyers expect that Pennsylvania Republicans, who were on the losing side Monday, will renew their bid to have the mail-ballot extension struck down by the Supreme Court after Barrett is confirmed. During an event with reporters on Tuesday, Republican election attorney Tom Spencer said another Pennsylvania GOP bid would be forthcoming after Barrett takes her seat on the high court. I know that with regard to the Pennsylvania decision, the Republicans have filed or are going to file another application when shes seated because they want to make sure that the decision of that court is overturned, he said, referring to last months decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The big gorilla in the room is the impact of the likely seating of Judge Amy Barrett, said Spencer, a top official at the Republican-allied group Lawyers Democracy Fund, adding, Its going to have an impact. Attorneys for the Pennsylvania Republican challengers did not respond to a request for comment. Barrett would face pressure from both ends of the political spectrum if she is faced with an election-related lawsuit like the Pennsylvania case that could affect how votes are counted in key battleground states. The spotlight would only intensify if the court confronts a case resembling the bitterly divisive Bush v. Gore fight of 2000, which effectively made George W. Bush the 43rd president. Conservatives hope Barrett represents a reliable vote to overturn court rulings that have eased voting restrictions across the country amid the pandemic and, if necessary, to rule in their favor if a recount dispute reaches the justices. In courtrooms across the country this cycle, Republicans and their allies have argued that judicial orders to relax voting limits have removed critical election guardrails, opened the vote to fraud and unlawfully taken the management of elections away from state legislatures. Trump himself has waded into the election law debate mostly by repeated warnings, without basis in fact, of the risk of widespread voter fraud this election. He has also encouraged the swift confirmation of Barrett in part so she could be seated in time to rule on voting litigation. During the first presidential debate, moderator Chris WallaceChristopher (Chris) WallaceCommission approves rules to mute mics at final Trump-Biden debate10 steps toward better presidential debating Trump campaign demands change to final debate topicsMORE of Fox News asked Trump if he was counting on the Supreme Court, including a Justice Barrett, to settle any election disputes. Yes, I think Im counting on them to look at the ballots, definitely, Trump replied. Democrats portrayed that scenario as a potential conflict of interest for Barrett and repeatedly pressed her during the Senate confirmation hearings last week to recuse herself from election litigation, which she declined to do. Such calls would be certain to grow louder if Barretts participation in any disputes bearing on the 2020 election became an issue. The Pennsylvania dispute reached the Supreme Court late last month when the Republican Party of Pennsylvania and top members of the states GOP-held legislature filed an emergency request asking the justices to block the states mail-ballot extension. Despite Mondays setback Pennsylvania Republicans can still ask the Supreme Court to rule on the merits of their challenge through a fast-track review process. The extended Nov. 6 mail-ballot due date will stand unless the justices or Pennsylvania state legislature takes further action. The justices are expected to rule soon on a similar fight involving a Democratic bid to extend the mail-ballot deadline in Wisconsin.

Miami PD says officer wearing Trump mask is 'unacceptable' | TheHill - The Hill

Miami's police chief issued a statement criticizing his own officer's conduct after said off...

Miami's police chief issued a statement criticizing his own officer's conduct after said officer was seen wearing a mask that displayed support for President TrumpDonald John TrumpNearly 300 former national security officials sign Biden endorsement letterDC correspondent on the death of Michael Reinoehl: 'The folks I know in law enforcement are extremely angry about it'Late night hosts targeted Trump over Biden 97 percent of the time in September: studyMORE while on duty at a polling location in the city. Chief Jorge Colina told CBS 4 Miami in a statement also released by the department on Twitter that the actions of Officer Daniel Ubeda were "unacceptable" after a local Democratic official posted a picture of Ubeda wearing a "Trump 2020" mask while in uniform. "Here is @CityofMiami Police Officer Daniel Ubeda, in full uniform with badge and gun wearing his Trump mask inside of the polling location in government center. This is city funded voter intimidation. Ubeda should be suspended immediately," wrote Steve Simeonidis, chairman of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, on Twitter. Here is @CityofMiami Police Officer Daniel Ubeda, in full uniform with badge and gun wearing his Trump mask inside of the polling location in government center. This is city funded voter intimidation. Ubeda should be suspended immediately. pic.twitter.com/TbJxu6mcem Steve Simeonidis (@stevesimeonidis) October 20, 2020 Colina said that Ubeda's conduct would be addressed immediately, though it was unclear if he would face a suspension. "We are aware of the photograph being circulated of a Miami Police officer wearing a political mask in uniform. This behavior is unacceptable, a violation of departmental policy, and is being addressed immediately," said the police chief.

Neil deGrasse Tyson warns asteroid could hit Earth the day before the election | TheHill - The Hill

Don’t panic, you can still vote.

Stressed out about the presidential election this year? The Universe heard you and is sending you an asteroid. In an Instagram post, Neil deGrasse Tyson shared a photo of the Earth from space along with what you can only assume is an asteroid. Asteroid 2018VP1  now that's a mouthful  is a space-rock the size of a refrigerator, Tyson said, and it's hurtling towards us at more than 25,000 miles per hour.  WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE RIGHT NOW POLL FINDS 7 OF 10 VOTERS FAVOR STRONG GOVERNMENT ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE ICE IN BERING SEA HITS LOWEST LEVEL IN THOUSANDS OF YEARS ANTARCTIC GLACIER RETREATED 3 MILES IN 22 YEARS 10 THINGS WE CAN ALL DO ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE WE DONT BELONG ON MARS, WE HAVENT LANDED ON EARTH YET It may buzz-cut Earth on Nov. 2, the day before the Presidential Election, Tyson said in the caption. But its not big enough to cause harm. So if the World ends in 2020, it wont be the fault of the Universe. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is fully aware of this and they are not concerned. In fact, they tweeted about it back in August, saying that it was about 6.5 feet (roughly the size of a refrigerator) and only had a 0.41 percent chance of entering the atmosphere.  Asteroid 2018VP1 is very small, approx. 6.5 feet, and poses no threat to Earth! It currently has a 0.41% chance of entering our planets atmosphere, but if it did, it would disintegrate due to its extremely small size. NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) August 23, 2020 America is changing faster than ever!Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. Even if it did, NASA said the asteroid would disintegrate at the upper levels of our atmosphere. So you might get just a dusting of space rock. While humans are still discovering new craters made by asteroids thousands and millions of years ago, the last record of impact on Earth was in 2018, when a small 2 to 5 meter asteroid landed in southern Africa, named 2018 LA (ZLAF9B2),  So while the election will go on, likely uninterrupted, youve got something else to focus your gaze on. On Nov. 2, the Apollo asteroid will intersect the Earth's orbit over the Pacific Ocean, making it unlikely that Americans will get to see it in person, but the Internet might give you a glimpse of this celestial interaction. BREAKING NEWS ON THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE COULD GET WORSE DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC PROPOSAL TO LET CORONAVIRUS SPREAD NATURALLY THROUGH US POPULATION INTERESTS WHITE HOUSE, ALARMS MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT EUROPE REENTERS LOCKDOWNS AS COVID-19 CASES SURGE THE FIRST DEATH FROM A CORONAVIRUS REINFECTION HAS BEEN REPORTED US SENATOR TOOK OFF MASK REPEATEDLY ON FLIGHT. HE CHAIRS COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES AIRLINE SAFETY

Perez on Biden's poll leads: Democrats 'take nothing for granted' | TheHill - The Hill

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said on Sunday t...

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom PerezThomas Edward PerezClintons top five vice presidential picksGovernment social programs: Triumph of hope over evidenceLabors 'wasteful spending and mismanagement at Workers CompMORE said on Sunday that the party is taking nothing for granted even though presidential nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenConservatives seize on New York Post story to push Section 230 reformTrump wishes Harris 'the best' after aide tests positive for COVID-19Pennsylvania rejects 372K mail-in ballot applications following primary confusion: reportMORE leads in several recent national and swing state polls. When questioning Perez on Face The Nation, CBSs Margaret Brennan cited the CBS News-YouGov polls that show Biden with an edge over President TrumpDonald John TrumpLatest Mnuchin-Pelosi call produces 'encouraging news on testing' for stimulus packageChina warns it will detain American nationals following DOJ prosecution of Chinese scholars: reportMusician John Fogerty issues cease and desist over Trump use of 'Fortunate Son'MORE in Wisconsin and Arizona, adding that the election results are "going to be dependent on turnout. Do you think the Democratic Party has done enough in the midst of this pandemic to drive up either easy balloting or ability to go to the poll? Brennan asked. Well, I always caution people, never to go on the poll-er-coaster, Perez responded. We take nothing for granted.  With @JoeBiden maintaining a solid lead in key states ahead of #electionday, @DNC's @TomPerez cautions voters: "never go on the 'Poll-er-coaster', we take nothing for granted" pic.twitter.com/FJ4T36DnUp Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) October 18, 2020 Perezs remarks align with the Biden campaigns recent warning for voters not to become complacent because of the national and battleground state polls showing Biden leads. We cannot become complacent because the very searing truth is that Donald Trump can still win this race, and every indication we have shows that this thing is going to come down to the wire, Biden's campaign manager, Jen OMalley Dillon, wrote in a memo obtained by The Hill on Saturday.  While we see robust leads at the national level, in the states were counting on to carry us to victory like Arizona and North Carolina were only up by three points. Dillon said in the memo. We also know that even the best polling can be wrong, and that variables like turnout mean that in a number of critical states we are functionally tied and that we need to campaign like were trailing. Democratic leaders, including Dillon, have pointed to the 2016 election, in which former Secretary of State Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonBiden camp urges supporters to 'campaign like we're trailing'Censoring the Biden story: How social media becomes state mediaNYT editorial calls Trump the 'greatest threat to American democracy since World War II'MORE lost the election, even though she won the popular vote and many polls predicted she would win the election ahead of time.  But Perez emphasized voter enthusiasm in his interview with Face The Nation," citing early vote totals in Wisconsin, where he said more than 25 percent of people have voted, and in Florida, where he said 2.4 million people have voted. And whats really interesting is the Democrats are overwhelmingly turning in their ballots and 350,000 of the Democrats that have turned in their ballots havent voted in the last two elections, he said.  So its not just people who are voting for convenience, he added. Its people who haven't turned out, and that shows the enthusiasm for Joe Biden and [Sen.] Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisTrump digs in on conspiracy theory over bin Laden raidTrump wishes Harris 'the best' after aide tests positive for COVID-19Harris to return to campaign trail Monday for first time since aide tests positive for COVID-19MORE [(D-Calif.)], referring to the former vice president's running mate The Democratic chairman said Biden was uniquely qualified to bring people together, but acknowledged we have more work to do, and folks gotta get out there and vote. Two national polls released last week an NPR-PBS NewsHour-Marist poll and an NBC-Wall Street Journal poll found the president trailing Biden nationally by 11 percentage points. Battleground polls overall have shown Biden with an edge over Trump.

Latest Mnuchin-Pelosi call produces 'encouraging news on testing' for stimulus package | TheHill - The Hill

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) deputy chief of staff Dre...

House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi defends not speaking to Trump for an entire yearOn The Money: Kudlow confident that Trump can 'round up' Senate GOP behind coronavirus relief deal | US deficit spikes to record .1TRomney slams Trump for refusing to denounce QAnon on national televisionMORE's (D-Calif.) deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill said Saturday that there has been some "encouraging news on testing" following the speaker's call with Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinPelosi defends not speaking to Trump for an entire yearOn The Money: Kudlow confident that Trump can 'round up' Senate GOP behind coronavirus relief deal | US deficit spikes to record .1TUS deficit spikes to record .1 trillion in 2020 amid pandemic spendingMORE to discuss the details on a possible fifth coronavirus relief package.  The call is the latest development in the back-and-forth stimulus negotiations that have appeared to grind to a halt as the White House has thus far been unable to hammer out a deal with congressional leadership.  The news comes as President TrumpDonald John TrumpMichigan court overturns absentee ballot extensionTrump jokes he'll 'find a way' to fire Gov. DeSantis if he loses Florida Biden hits Trump's response to attempted kidnapping of Michigan governor: 'What the hell is wrong with this guy?'MORE and his administration are pushing to pass a stimulus bill just weeks before the Nov. 3 election. Earlier this month, Trump encouraged Congress to "go big or go home" on a coronavirus stimulus package after he had called off negotiations altogether in a tweet.  However, Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellRepublicans increasingly seek distance from TrumpOn The Money: Kudlow confident that Trump can 'round up' Senate GOP behind coronavirus relief deal | US deficit spikes to record .1TThe Hill's Campaign Report: Democrats break fundraising records in Senate races MORE (R-Ky.) and other top Republicans have balked at stimulus offers over $1 trillion.  Hamill tweeted the news late Saturday evening, saying that the conversation between Pelosi and Mnuchin lasted about an hour.  While there was some encouraging news on testing, there remains work to do to ensure there is a comprehensive testing plan that includes contact tracing and additional measures to address the virus disproportionate impact on communities of color, he wrote.  Hammill added that after the discussion, there are also still an array of additional differences as we go provision by provision that must be addressed in a comprehensive manner in the next 48 hours.  Decisions must be made by the White House in order to demonstrate that the Administration is serious about reaching a bipartisan agreement that provides for Americans with the greatest needs during the pandemic, he added in follow-up tweets.  The Speaker and Secretary Mnuchin spoke at 7:40 p.m. by phone tonight for just over an hour. While there was some encouraging news on testing, there remains work to do to ensure there is a comprehensive testing plan that includes contact tracing and additional measures to...(1/3) Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) October 18, 2020 ... in order to demonstrate that the Administration is serious about reaching a bipartisan agreement that provides for Americans with the greatest needs during the pandemic. (3/3) Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) October 18, 2020 Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced Saturday afternoon that the Senate will vote on a $500 billion GOP coronavirus relief bill on Wednesday.  The Senate bill is less than a third of the size of the $1.8 trillion offer from the White House and is much less than the $2.2 trillion package passed by congressional Democrats earlier this month.   McConnell, speaking in Kentucky this week, expressed doubt that a package between $1.8 trillion and $2.2 trillion package could be achieved, adding that it would need support from Senate Republicans even if Pelosi was able to reach a deal with the Trump administration.  I dont think so. Thats where the administration is willing to go. My members think half a trillion dollars, highly targeted, is the best way to go," McConnell said.  However, McConnell added that the Senate would consider a deal reached between the White House and Democrats. If Speaker Pelosi ever lets the House reach a bipartisan agreement with the Administration, the Senate would of course consider it. But Americans need help now, he said. The Senate bill detailed by McConnell Saturday includes a federal unemployment benefit and another round of small-business assistance under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  In a pre-recorded interview on Full Court Press with Greta Van Susteren, to air Sunday, Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamHillicon Valley: Trump refuses to condemn QAnon | Twitter revises its policy, lets users share disputed article | Google sees foreign cyber threatsRepublicans increasingly seek distance from TrumpChairman: Senate Judiciary to vote on subpoena for Mark ZuckerbergMORE (R-S.C.) said that Congress should go big and smart on the next coronavirus relief package.  The senator added that while he thinks more money is needed, he does not agree with the policy components of the House proposal.  The $2.2 trillion coming out of the House has a mandate for ballot harvesting. What's that got to do COVID? Graham said. And the $1,200 payment, which I support, doesn't require a Social Security number to get it, so a lot of the money would go to illegal immigrants. There are some Republicans who don't want to spend anymore, Graham added. I think we need more money, but we don't need policy provisions like the House has.

Alabama breaks absentee voting record 3 weeks before Election Day | TheHill - The Hill

Alabama has broken its record for casting absentee ballots during an election, and there’s still three weeks before Election Day.

Alabama has broken its record for casting absentee ballots during an election, and theres still three weeks before Election Day. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill (R) said that as of Tuesday, 91,786 absentee ballots have been cast ahead of the Nov. 3 election. The previous record was 89,000 ballots cast over the course of the 2012 election cycle.  Merrill told the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce said he expects to have over 200,000 ballots requested by election day according to 280 Living, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Merrill ruled in July that any person who deems it unreasonable to vote in person due to the pandemic can check on their absentee ballot application that says I have a physical illness or infirmity which prevents my attendance at the polls. [ID REQUIRED] Overall, he thinks 2.5 to 2.8 million people will cast their votes this election, which would represent 68 to 75 percent of registered voters in the state.  Absentee and mail-in voting have become contentious issues this election cycle as going to vote in-person increases the likelihood of contracting the coronavirus.  President TrumpDonald John TrumpMichigan court overturns absentee ballot extensionTrump jokes he'll 'find a way' to fire Gov. DeSantis if he loses Florida Biden hits Trump's response to attempted kidnapping of Michigan governor: 'What the hell is wrong with this guy?'MORE has repeatedly asserted that mail-in voting would lead to widespread voter fraud, despite no evidence to support that claim. And on Wednesday, videos emerged of conservative activists discussing limiting mail-in voting and dismissing it as a ploy to help Democrats. As of Saturday, more than 25 million ballots have been cast for the Nov. 3 general election, according to the U.S. Elections Project, which tracks early voting statistics in real time. In addition, more than 81 million ballots have been requested across the country.

Michigan court overturns absentee ballot extension | TheHill - The Hill

A Michigan court overturned an extension that allowed absentee ballots to be received two weeks after Election Day, ruling that the votes must instead be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.

A Michigan court overturned an extension that allowed absentee ballots to be received two weeks after Election Day, ruling that the votes must instead be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.  The ruling by the Michigan Court of Appeals marks a reversal of a lower court decision and hands a win to Republicans in a crucial swing state, undercutting Democrats efforts to ease restrictions on voting in a cycle when the coronavirus pandemic is expected to cause a spike in mail-in ballots. The lower court had ruled last month that ballots could be counted within two weeks of Election Day if they were postmarked by Nov. 2, batting down arguments from the state's Republican-controlled legislature that the pandemic and slowdowns at the U.S. Postal Service were not adequate reasons to extend the deadline. But the appeals court decided differently, arguing that the viruss spread and mail delivery issues are not attributable to the state and noting that additional ballot deliver[y] options [are] available to absentee voters, including nearly 1,000 drop boxes and satellite voting sites. To be sure, the pandemic has caused considerable change in our lives, but election officials have taken considerable steps to alleviate the potential effects by making no-reason absent voting easier for the 2020 election, wrote appellate Judges Thomas Cameron, Mark Boonstra and Michael Gadola. Although those factors may complicate plaintiffs voting process, they do not automatically amount to a loss of the right to vote absentee, they added of the pandemic and the mail slowdown. The ruling echoes similar decisions that blocked absentee ballot extensions in Indiana and Wisconsin. Michigan, like many states across the country, is anticipated to see a flood in absentee ballots as votes are cast during the pandemic. The Great Lakes State is a top battleground this year after President TrumpDonald John TrumpFeds investigating if alleged Hunter Biden emails connected to foreign intelligence operation: reportSix takeaways from Trump and Biden's dueling town hallsBiden draws sharp contrast with Trump in low-key town hallMORE won it by less than 11,000 votes in 2016. Democrats have fiercely fought for expanding absentee ballot rules as polls show the partys base is more willing than Republicans to submit votes by mail. The GOP hailed the Friday evening ruling, with Republican Party Chair Ronna McDanielRonna Romney McDanielMinnesota health officials connect COVID-19 cases to Trump, Biden campaign eventsDemocrats preview strategy on Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation hearings this weekSunday shows - Coronavirus stimulus, Barrett hearings share spotlightMORE calling it Great news for election integrity! This is a great day for the rule of law. Its important that the rules arent changed during an election to advantage one party over another. I applaud the Michigan Court of Appeals for standing up for the rule of law and the laws passed by the peoples representatives, tweeted Laura Cox, the chair of the Michigan Republican Party.  This is a great day for the rule of law. Its important that the rules arent changed during an election to advantage one party over another. I applaud the Michigan Court of Appeals for standing up for the rule of law and the laws passed by the peoples representatives. Laura Cox (@MIGOPChair) October 17, 2020 The Michigan Democratic Party said it was disappointed in the decision, but did not clarify if it intends to appeal the ruling. Voters should not be punished for delays in the U.S. Postal Service or for unexpected emergencies that could make it a challenge for them to get to the polls on election day. Our courts should be following the example set by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and reinforcing efforts that remove barriers to voting, said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes. The Michigan Democratic Party continues to encourage voters to request an absentee ballot immediately, fill it out when it arrives and return it to their local clerks office as soon as possible.

Trump administration blocks California wildfire relief | TheHill - The Hill

With the state reeling from thousands of fires this season, FEMA rejected the state’s bid for federal funding.

As California seeks additional federal aid in recovering from the record-breaking wildfire season that continues to grip the state, the Trump administration has reportedly denied Californias request for disaster relief funds, the Los Angeles Times reports. The decision was handed down either late Wednesday or early Thursday after the request was submitted on Sept. 28. The aid is sought to be allocated toward cleaning up debris leftover from recent wildfires like the El Dorado, Creek, and Bobcat fires. Brian Ferguson, the deputy director of crisis communication and media relations for the California governors Office of Emergency Services, couldnt provide a reason behind the White Houses rejection.  OREGON TOWN UNLEASHES MORE THAN 200 GOATS TO HELP FIGHT WILDFIRES BOBCAT FIRE BURNS THROUGH 100,000 ACRES OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY WILDFIRE SMOKE FROM US WEST REACHES EUROPE OREGON WILDFIRES COULD LEAD TO GREATEST LOSS OF HUMAN LIVES AND PROPERTY DUE TO WILDFIRE IN STATES HISTORY Previously, in January, Trump said he may withhold aid to California unless he got assurances the funding will be allocated properly. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has frequently declared states of emergency to release state funds to supply additional resources to fight the flames.  If a major disaster declaration were to be approved, the federal government would help in providing a bevy of resources and assistance programs to the public infrastructure of the state, which would cover funding for emergency and permanent work. The declaration is a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Amid delegating resources to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, the state needs supplemental funding, with California facing an approximate $54.3-billion deficit  The proposal submitted by Newsom on behalf of California did not include a specific requested sum, given that the real cost of the damage may not be known for a significant amount of time afterwards. The true cost wont be known for months or years afterward, Ferguson told the Times. What the state is looking for is the highest level of federal support, which requires the highest bars be cleared. But we feel our case for those requirements has been met. He also said that projected amounts of funding could reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars. The 2020 wildfire season for California which is still ongoing saw a record number of incidents and acres burned. The August Complex Fire made history by being the first single fire to burn over one million acres, and a total of 31 lives have been lost, according to Cal Fire.  So far, more than 4 million acres have been scorched after 8,486 incidents, causing destruction or damage to 9,247 structures. Eight fires are still burning in California, including the dangerous August Complex Fire.  The Times reports that Newsom estimated the cost of damages to these properties amounts to about $264,289,200. Ferguson concluded by saying that he hopes FEMA will approve the decision anyway.  FBI, POLICE DEBUNK REPORTS OF EXTREMISTS LIGHTING FIRES WILDFIRE IS LARGEST IN CALIFORNIA HISTORY AND CONTINUES TO GROW OREGON WILDFIRES FORCE 500,000 TO EVACUATE CALIFORNIA IS NOW FIGHTING A STAGGERING 625 FIRES AT ONCE

Fauci blasts herd immunity proposal embraced by White House as 'total nonsense' | TheHill - The Hill

Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, on Thursday called a herd i...

Anthony FauciAnthony FauciFauci has 'high degree of confidence' Trump no longer shedding coronavirus Small gatherings causing new COVID-19 infections, CDC director warnsTrump to participate in NBC town hall on Thursday, competing with Biden eventMORE, the nations top infectious disease expert, on Thursday called a herd immunity proposal being embraced by the White House total nonsense.  The so-called Great Barrington Declaration authored by a small group of doctors calls for quickly reaching herd immunity by letting COVID-19 spread uncontrolled among the young and healthy population while protecting the vulnerable. Herd immunity, typically achieved with a vaccine, is the point at which a disease, like measles, stops spreading widely throughout a population because enough people have already had it and are immune to it. It's not clear if prior COVID-19 infection confers long-term immunity to the disease. If you just let things rip and let the infection go that, quite frankly, George, is ridiculous, Fauci said Thursday, addressing ABCs George StephanopoulosGeorge Robert StephanopoulosDebate commission co-chair: 'No evidence whatsoever' Trump has tested negativeBiden to participate in ABC town hall Oct. 15 in lieu of Trump debateTrump, Biden campaigns clash over debate timing, formatsMORE in an interview.  Fauci, who appeared impassioned while railing against the proposal, noted that 30 percent of the population has underlying health conditions that makes them vulnerable. Additionally, older adults, even those who are otherwise healthy, are far more likely than young adults to become seriously ill if they get COVID-19. What that will do is that there will be so many people in the community that you can't shelter, that you can't protect, who are gonna get sick and get serious consequences, Fauci said.  So this idea that we have the power to protect the vulnerable is total nonsense because history has shown that that's not the case. And, and if you talk to anybody who has any experience in epidemiology and infectious diseases, they will tell you that that is risky, and you'll wind up with many more infections of vulnerable people, which will lead to hospitalizations and deaths. So I think that we just got to look that square in the eye and say it's nonsense," he said. The declaration has been embraced by Scott Atlas, neuroradiologist and adviser to Trump who has no obvious expertise on infectious diseases.  The three doctors behind the declaration met with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Atlas last week to discuss the declaration, as first reported by The Hill. A senior Trump administration official then praised the declaration during a call with reporters Monday organized by the White House.  The Great Barrington Declaration argues that lockdowns are producing devastating effects on short and long-term public health, including fewer cancer screenings, lower childhood vaccination rates and deteriorating mental health. The most compassionate approach that balances the risks and benefits of reaching herd immunity, is to allow those who are at minimal risk of death to live their lives normally to build up immunity to the virus through natural infection, while better protecting those who are at highest risk, the declaration reads. We call this Focused Protection. Fauci on Thursday responded that no one is arguing for permanent lockdowns. We don't want to shut down the country. I say that all the time. We certainly want to protect the vulnerable," he said. Experts argue the best way to protect the vulnerable is by trying to slow the spread of COVID-19. The higher cases of COVID-19 are in a community, the more at risk the vulnerable are to getting sick, experts say. This [declaration] is dangerous because it puts the entire population, particularly the most vulnerable, at risk. Young people are not all healthy and they dont live in vacuums, dozens of scientists, doctors and researchers wrote in a letter published this week in The Lancet medical journal. They interact with family members, co-workers and neighbors. Inviting increased rates of COVID-19 in young people will lead to increased infections rates among all Americans," they said.

Harrison slams Graham over 'good old days of segregation' remark | TheHill - The Hill

Democratic candidate Jaime Harrison, who is Black, is calling out Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) for calling the Jim Crow era in the South the “good old days of segregation,” a comment that appeared to be flippant but now is a likely campaign issue.

Democratic candidate Jaime Harrison, who is Black, is calling out Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamFive takeaways from Barrett's Supreme Court grillingBarrett says she did not strike down ObamaCare in moot court caseTed Cruz asks Jim Carrey for copy of his 'hellbound' Cruz artworkMORE (R-S.C.) for referring to the Jim Crow era in the South as the good old days of segregation, a comment that appeared to be flippant but now is a likely campaign issue. The comment drew a strong rebuke from Harrison, who is tied in most polls with Graham in the South Carolina Senate race. "@LindseyGrahamSC just called segregation the good old days. The good old days for who, Senator? its 2020, not 1920. Act like it," Harrison tweeted along with an 11-second video clip of Grahams comment. [email protected] just called segregation the good old days. The good old days for who, Senator? Its 2020, not 1920. Act like it. pic.twitter.com/qVhhfp7oRY Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) October 14, 2020 Harrisons campaign spokesman Guy King called Graham completely out of touch the South Carolina of today and said he has lost his moral compass. Graham pushed back hard against Harrison when the committee took a lunch break and claimed his opponent was manufacturing an attack out of a sarcastic remark. It was with deep sarcasm that I suggested that some legislative body would want to yearn for the good old days of segregation, he said. The point that Im trying to make there is nobody in America in the legislative arena wanting to take us back to that dark period in American history, he said. For my opponent to suggest that says far more about him than me. Graham made his comment while asking Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett about her views of so-called superprecedents, which she has loosely defined as Supreme Court rulings which are so well settled that no one in the country is thinking of challenging them. Seeking to clarify Barretts view of Brown v. Board of Education, in which the Supreme Court outlawed segregation in public schools, Graham said youre not aware of any effort to go back to the good old days of segregation by a legislative body. The comment appeared to be a flippant, off-the-cuff remark and didn't draw any immediate rebuke from any Democrats at the hearing.  The comment calls to mind the furor that erupted around former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) in 2002 when, during a tribute to the late Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), he praised Mississippis support for Thurmonds segregationist presidential campaign of 1948. "We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead," Lott said, "we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either." Lott was later forced to resign his leadership post because of the comment.  Updated: 12:43 p.m.