White House News (白宮消息)

12/15/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Dec. 15, 2020

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Electoral College formally casts votes: live updates

Dec. 14 - Electors gathered in 50 states and the District of Columbia on Monday to formally vote for the next president. Most states have laws binding their electors to the winner of the popular vote in their state.

The results will be sent to Washington and tallied in a Jan. 6 joint session of Congress over which Pence will preside.

The electors’ votes have drawn more attention than usual this year because Trump has refused to concede the election and continues to make unsupported allegations of fraud. There was no widespread fraud. This has been confirmed by election officials across the country and by Attorney General William Barr.

7:10 p.m.
The Electoral College has finished voting to solidify Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
With Hawaii reporting their electoral vote Monday, Biden has 306 to President Donald Trump’s 232 votes. The threshold to win is 270.

It’s normally a procedural step, but its importance was heightened this year because Trump has refused to concede his loss. He and his allies have filed roughly 50 lawsuits and most have been dropped or dismissed by judges, including twice by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Electoral College results will be sent to Washington and tallied in a Jan. 6 joint session of Congress over which Vice President Mike Pence will preside. source

Related Article:
EXPLAINER: What’s in store when the Electoral College meets

William Barr Resigns, And Trump Gets Burned By Twitter Users
With the attorney general stepping down next week, Twitter critics are stepping up their barrage against the president’s “festive” announcement.

Dec. 14 - After President Donald Trump announced Monday that Attorney General William Barr had resigned, Twitter users went wild with snarky comments.
The president announced the resignation in two tweets.

Just had a very nice meeting with Attorney General Bill Barr at the White House. Our relationship has been a very good one, he has done an outstanding job! As per letter, Bill will be leaving just before Christmas to spend the holidays with his family...

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2020

...Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen, an outstanding person, will become Acting Attorney General. Highly respected Richard Donoghue will be taking over the duties of Deputy Attorney General. Thank you to all! pic.twitter.com/V5sqOJT9PM

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2020

But many Twitter users were skeptical about the cheery tone in Trump’s tweet, considering Barr had recently risked getting on the president’s bad side. continue to read

12/14/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Dec. 14, 2020

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Why don’t the Electoral College and popular vote always match up?
Four times the winner of the national popular vote lost the presidency – most recently in 2016 when Hillary Clinton won the popular vote – and it could happen in 2020 due to the Electoral College.

The Electoral College meets on Monday. Here's what to expect.

The 538 members will cast votes for president and vice president.

Dec. 13 - The 538 members of the Electoral College are set to cast votes for president and vice president on Monday -- marking another step toward making President-elect Joe Biden's victory official.

The vote is traditionally little more than a formality. But this year, with President Donald Trump resisting his defeat at every turn and waging long-shot legal battles with baseless claims of widespread fraud, the meeting comes at a tense and fragile moment for the country's democratic institutions and is one that will happen irrespective of the outgoing president's efforts to subvert the electoral process.

The electors will seal Biden as the winner ahead of his swearing in at the inauguration on Jan. 20. His margin of victory in the Electoral College is expected to be 306 votes to Trump's 232, if there are no surprises.

More on what to expect on Monday:

In this Jan. 6, 2017, file photo, Vice President Joe Biden hands the official Electoral College votes

What is the Electoral College?

While the public elects members of Congress, governors, state legislators, mayors and other local officers, the nation's highest office is determined by the Electoral College -- an obscure vestige of the Constitution that was established as a compromise between empowering Congress or a popular majority with the ability to elect the president... more

When and where are the electors meeting?The electors are required by federal law to meet the "Monday after the second Wednesday in December of presidential election years," but they gather in each of their respective states and the nation's capital at places determined by the state legislature... more

What happens on Monday?

Each state's slate of electors will cast two votes by a paper ballot in a typically low-drama affair.

Once the votes are tallied, the electors sign six certificates with the results. The separate certificates are submitted to the archivist of the United States, the president of the Senate (the country's vice president), the secretary of state and to the judge of the U.S. district court of the district where the electors met.

The candidates who receive a majority of the vote across the Electoral College -- or 270 votes -- are formally elected to the White House... source & more

12/13/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Dec. 13, 2020

2 - White House News in Chinese (weebly.com)

Palmer Report is an American liberal political blog,[3] based in Los Angeles, California.[4] It is written by Bill Palmer, who describes himself[5] on his website as a political journalist who covered the 2016 election cycle from start to finish, along with more than fifty additional writers and contributing editors in several U.S. states and the United Kingdom.[6] Palmer previously ran a site called Daily News Bin,[7] described by Snopes editor Brooke Binkowski as "basically a pro-Hillary Clinton 'news site.'"[8] The site has built a following based on speculative theories about Donald Trump going to prison.[9] Founded in 2013, it has been noted for the accuracy and promptness of its political analysis, which has often been reported weeks or even months in advance of other outlets for political news.[citation needed]
source from Wikipedia

Palmer Report » Analysis

Donald Trump’s final message to his supporters: “Destroy the GOP”

Dec. 12 - Pro-Trump protesters are chanting “Destroy the GOP” at their rally today. Donald Trump will be off the political stage soon, too mired in criminal charges and financial collapse to remain interested in politics. And the lasting message he’s leaving with his supporters is they should never vote Republican again, because the party didn’t do enough to save him... continue to read

最后一搏求翻盘特朗普政府“垃圾时间”频演“最后疯狂”
20201211 |《今日关注》CCTV中文国际
Dec 12, 2020

Taiwan's Military Could Soon Have the MQ-9 Reaper Drone
Taiwan may be acquiring U.S.-built MQ-9 Reaper drones according to a U.S. State Department Congressional notification, a move which could massively improve Taiwan’s electronic eyes on vital areas of the Chinese coastline and waters between them and the mainland.

Dec. 13 - Given China’s consistent insistence upon preparing for an amphibious assault on Taiwan with drills and combat preparation operations in waters nearby, and the Chinese government’s escalating language about possible forcible reunification with the island, it comes as no surprise that the United States is authorizing the sale of MQ-9 Reaper drones to the country.

Taiwan may be acquiring U.S.-built MQ-9 Reaper drones according to a U.S. State Department Congressional notification, a move which could massively improve Taiwan’s electronic eyes on vital areas of the Chinese coastline and waters between them and the mainland. The proposed sale is in part due to an interesting policy shift regarding the export of drones to foreign allies which increased the volume and ease with which the United States can offer unmanned systems to partners around the globe.
“Most partners who are seeking it, and two that you just mentioned, are looking at it from a maritime domain awareness, border integrity, border-protection capability. It's not a strategic tool, it's a tactical operational tool,” Clarke Cooper, Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs told reporters, according to a Pentagon transcript.

In July of 2020, the Trump administration updated the United States policy on the export of unmanned aerial systems, Cooper explained.

“This important change benefited one of America’s most innovative industries, and allowed the United States to export additional UAS to key partners who require intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to address counter-terrorism and border security capabilities,” he added. continue to read

12/12/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Dec. 12, 2020

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Trump supporters demonstrate at the US Supreme Court in Washington, December 11, 2020.
US Supreme Court dismisses Texas-led lawsuit seeking to overturn election
Decision effectively ends Trump’s attempt to reverse election result through court system; electoral college meets Monday to formally elect Biden

Dec. 11 - WASHINGTON (AP) — The US Supreme Court on Friday rejected a lawsuit backed by President Donald Trump to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory, ending a desperate attempt to get legal issues rejected by state and federal judges before the nation’s highest court.

The court’s order was its second this week rebuffing Republican requests that it get involved in the 2020 election outcome and overturn the will of voters as expressed in an election regarded by both Republican and Democratic officials as free and fair. The justices turned away an appeal from Pennsylvania Republicans on Tuesday.

Friday’s court decision effectively ends Trump’s attempt to overturn the election through the court system. more details

Supreme Court denies Texas attempt to overturn election results
Dec 12, 2020
In a closely watched decision the U.S. Supreme Court late Friday denied an attempt by the state of Texas, supported by a large number of Republicans, to overturn the election results and President-elect Joe Biden's victory in four states. Judy Woodruff spoke with John Yang, Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor to discuss.

HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA/USA DECEMBER 10, 2019: President Donald Trump, left, appears with vice-president Mike Pence
Trump’s biggest betrayal yet could come in the last days of his presidency

Dec. 11 - Donald Trump is a lame duck. His decisions in the final weeks of his presidency will be driven by delusion, self-enrichment, and trying to handicap Joe Biden so Trump won’t be shamed by comparison. He could wreak untold damage on America unless he’s finally checked by Congress.

In the past his advisers stopped him from making misguided decisions, but not anymore. After the election he replaced top Pentagon officials with sycophants. He fired Homeland Security Director Chris Krebs and Defense Secretary Mark Esper by tweet. Those firings could foretell more unchecked decisions with disastrous consequences.

A disturbing pro-Russian pattern in Trump’s decisions suggest the worst is yet to come. His continued alignment with Russian interests must be viewed in light of his decade-long dependency on Russia for financial survival after numerous bankruptcies. “Russians make up a … disproportionate cross-section of … our assets,” said, Donald Trump Jr. Eric Trump bragged, “We don’t rely on American banks; we have all the funding we need out of Russia”... continue to read

DECEMBER 11, 2020
President-Elect Biden Announces More Cabinet Picks
President-elect Biden introduced his pick for top positions in the administration. The president-elect selected Tom Vilsack to return as Agriculture secretary, Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) to serve as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Denis McDonough as the secretary of Veterans Affairs, Katherine Tai as U.S. trade representative and Susan Rice as the director of the White House’s Domestic Policy Council. President-elect Biden also briefly responded to a reporter’s question about a federal investigation into his son Hunter saying, “I’m proud of my son.”

On this Nov. 25, 2020, photo provided by the Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo, Gov. Cuomo speaks in Rochester, N.Y. Cuomo is one of several contenders under consideration by President-elect Joe Biden for the role of attorney general.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo among contenders for Biden’s attorney general pick, sources say

Dec. 12 - New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is one of several contenders under consideration by President-elect Joe Biden for the role of attorney general, a person with knowledge of the search process said Friday.

The other three contenders at the moment include outgoing Alabama Sen. Doug Jones, federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland and former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, said the person, who cautioned that no decision had been reached and no announcement was expected imminently.

The person was not authorized to discuss the search process by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. continue to read

General Lloyd Austin listens as Dr. Jill Biden speaks about care packages for military families for the holiday season in Washington, D.C., December 10, 2020
Joe Biden has made his first mistake – it could be costly

Dec. 11 - President-elect Joe Biden has picked Lloyd Austin as his Secretary of Defense. The ex-general would be the first African American to head the Pentagon. The choice is emblematic but wrong.

The silver lining that accompanied Joe Biden's presidential campaign was the promise not to be Donald Trump, to return to normality. Nevertheless, six weeks after the election, Biden is drawing parallels to the incumbent – albeit not in decorum.

Austin Lloyd's expertise is not in question or even up for debate. Few former servicemen can match the four-star general's forty-one years-long military resume, who led the U.S. Central Command between 2013 and 2016 and was the principal architect of the U.S.-led offensive against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

Moreover, the idea that for the first time, an African American could lead the Pentagon and command the 1,3 million US troops not only speak for Biden and his pledge to assemble a diverse cabinet. It would also serve as a message. A message that the county in which racial division remains high continues to take steps in the right direction. continue to read

We asked Valley Republican lawmakers if Biden won the election. Here’s what they said

Dec. 11 - Most GOP members in Congress continue to refuse to admit that Joe Biden won the presidential election over Donald Trump. In a recent tally by The Washington Post, only 27 of the 249 congressional GOP members have agreed that Biden will be the next president. more

PBS NewsHour full episode, Dec. 11, 2020
Dec. 12, 2020
Friday on the NewsHour, Congress remains deadlocked over a bipartisan relief bill, the challenges of distributing a vaccine in the U.S., Los Angeles County goes into lockdown as the pandemic surges, and Shields and Brooks break down the week in politics.

12/11/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Dec. 11, 2020

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DECEMBER 10, 2020
Vice President Pence Rally in Georgia
Vice President Mike Pence speaks at a Defend the Majority rally in Augusta, Georgia.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton greets President Donald Trump at Austin Bergstrom International Airport on Nov. 19, 2019.

Six GOP-led states join Texas bid to overturn Biden’s election, as Trump dines with Paxton and other AGs

Trump is also trying to join the Texas lawsuit that would nullify 10M votes in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Dec. 11 - WASHINGTON — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s effort to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory sparked a legal war between the states on Thursday.

Six fellow Republican attorneys general asked the Supreme Court to let them join Texas’ bid to nullify 10.4 million votes in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin. As filings poured into the high court, they and others joined President Donald Trump at a private lunch in the Cabinet Room.

Trump has also asked the court to let him sign on to the Texas lawsuit as a plaintiff.

By the close of business Thursday, 21 states — including four led by Republican governors — had filed objections, calling Texas’ request unconstitutional, unfair and outrageous. more details

FBI agents seek Texas attorney general records in Paxton probe

Dec. 11 - Federal agents served at least one subpoena Wednesday on the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in an ongoing investigation into allegations that Paxton abused his authority by helping a friend and campaign donor.

Three sources confirmed to the American-Statesman and KVUE-TV that FBI agents delivered the request for information to the agency’s headquarters on West 14th Street. The sources did not immediately know how many subpoenas were issued or what information FBI agents sought.

Federal authorities are investigating claims by former top Paxton aides that he used his position to aid Austin investor Nate Paul, whose offices were raided by the FBI last year. continue to read

Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr.[1] (born December 23, 1962) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the Attorney General of Texas since January 2015. Paxton is a Tea Party conservative.[2] He previously served as Texas State Senator for the 8th district and the Texas State Representative for the 70th district.
Paxton has been under indictment since 2015 on securities fraud charges relating to activities prior to taking office; he has pleaded not guilty.[3][4] In October 2020, several high-level assistants in Paxton's office made allegations accusing him of "bribery, abuse of office and other crimes".[5][6][7]