Donald Trump appeared to back the idea of trying to overturn the election result in Congress on 6 January in a series of tweets on Saturday morning in which he once again made unfounded claims of electoral fraud.
A joint session of House and Senate politicians will meet on 6 January to count the electoral votes, which gave a 306 to 232 victory to Joe Biden.
On Saturday morning, Mr Trump tweeted: “The ‘Justice’ Department and the FBI have done nothing about the 2020 Presidential Election Voter Fraud, the biggest SCAM in our nation’s history, despite overwhelming evidence. They should be ashamed. History will remember. Never give up. See everyone in D.C. on January 6th.”
The president continues to demand that the Covid relief bill agreed by Congress be amended to up individual stimulus payments from $600 per person to $2,000. If he does not sign the bill, millions of people will see coronavirus government aid come to an end, including extended unemployment insurance.
- Trump appears to back plan to overturn election results in Congress
- Despite smooth election, GOP leaders seek vote restrictions
- Unemployment benefits set to lapse for millions of Americans
- Trump golfs in Florida as Covid relief hangs in the balance
- Trump addresses Covid in Christmas video before Twitter election rant
KEY POINTS
- What happened to the defence bill?
- Christmas Day speech to the troops, but no media allowed
- Trump: SCOTUS ‘incompetent’
- Attack mode – Trump appears to back plan to overturn election in Congress
- A busy morning on the Twitter machine
Cuomo: McConnell still wants to ‘bankrupt the states’
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that the National Governors’ Association asked for $500 billion to plug gaps in state budgets caused by the pandemic in the Covid Relief Package and got zero.
He argues that Republicans gave Democrats a “Sophie’s Choice” deal in negotiating the bill, having to decide who to save with funding and who not to.
Without funding from the federal government, states and cities face massive budgetary gaps and will have to cut services and lay off essential workers including teachers, law enforcement, fire, and sanitation workers.
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Biden releases statement on Covid relief bill
President-elect Joe Biden has released a statement on the need to sign the Covid-19 Economic Relief Bill:
It is the day after Christmas, and millions of families don’t know if they’ll be able to make ends meet because of President Donald Trump’s refusal to sign an economic relief bill approved by Congress with an overwhelming and bipartisan majority.
This abdication of responsibility has devastating consequences. Today, about 10 million Americans will lose unemployment insurance benefits. In just a few days, government funding will expire, putting vital services and paychecks for military personnel at risk. In less than a week, a moratorium on evictions expires, putting millions at risk of being forced from their homes over the holidays. Delay means more small businesses won’t survive this dark winter because they lack access to the lifeline they need, and Americans face further delays in getting the direct payments they deserve as quickly as possible to help deal with the economic devastation caused by Covid-19. And while there is hope with the vaccines, we need funding to be able to distribute and administer them to millions of Americans, including frontline health care workers.
This bill is critical. It needs to be signed into law now. But it is also a first step and down payment on more action that we’ll need to take early in the new year to revive the economy and contain the pandemic — including meeting the dire need for funding to distribute and administer the vaccine and to increase our testing capacity.
In November, the American people spoke clearly that now is a time for bipartisan action and compromise. I was heartened to see members of Congress heed that message, reach across the aisle, and work together. President Trump should join them, and make sure millions of Americans can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads in this holiday season.
Biden releases statement on Covid relief bill
President-elect Joe Biden has released a statement on the need to sign the Covid-19 Economic Relief Bill:
It is the day after Christmas, and millions of families don’t know if they’ll be able to make ends meet because of President Donald Trump’s refusal to sign an economic relief bill approved by Congress with an overwhelming and bipartisan majority.
This abdication of responsibility has devastating consequences. Today, about 10 million Americans will lose unemployment insurance benefits. In just a few days, government funding will expire, putting vital services and paychecks for military personnel at risk. In less than a week, a moratorium on evictions expires, putting millions at risk of being forced from their homes over the holidays. Delay means more small businesses won’t survive this dark winter because they lack access to the lifeline they need, and Americans face further delays in getting the direct payments they deserve as quickly as possible to help deal with the economic devastation caused by Covid-19. And while there is hope with the vaccines, we need funding to be able to distribute and administer them to millions of Americans, including frontline health care workers.
This bill is critical. It needs to be signed into law now. But it is also a first step and down payment on more action that we’ll need to take early in the new year to revive the economy and contain the pandemic — including meeting the dire need for funding to distribute and administer the vaccine and to increase our testing capacity.
In November, the American people spoke clearly that now is a time for bipartisan action and compromise. I was heartened to see members of Congress heed that message, reach across the aisle, and work together. President Trump should join them, and make sure millions of Americans can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads in this holiday season.Oliver O’Connell26 December 2020 17:15
Tennessee governor requests Trump declares emergency
Following yesterday’s bombing in Nashville, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has written to the president asking for an emergency declaration to support “ongoing efforts and relief”.https://d-24363259131326988892.ampproject.net/2011252111003/frame.html
The motive for the bombing remains a mystery. Graig Grasiosi reported on events yesterday for The Independent.
Huge explosion in downtown Nashville ‘after parked vehicle blew up’
Police believe the act was intentionalOliver O’Connell26 December 2020 16:59
Presidential Message on Kwanzaa, 2020
From the White House:
The First Lady and I send our best wishes to all those observing Kwanzaa.
For many, today marks the first day in a weeklong celebration of African culture and heritage. As families, friends, and communities light the Kinara over the next 7 days, our Nation honors the indelible contributions of African Americans to the strength and vitality of the United States.
During this time, we send season’s greetings to those celebrating and pray for the health, happiness, and unity of all Americans in the New Year.Oliver O’Connell26 December 2020 16:39
Nothing simple about this
Oliver O’Connell26 December 2020 16:21
In-depth: Section 230
Adam Smith explains what Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (1996) is, and why the president is so against it.
What is Section 230 and why does Trump want it revoked?
Donald Trump is expected to make changes to Section 230, a law which protects social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter from certain user-generated contentOliver O’Connell26 December 2020 15:59
About that defence bill
Speaking of the troops (and recalling Senator Graham’s mention of Section 230 in his tweet), here’s a refresher on the president’s veto of the military spending bill which happened shortly before the holiday.
Trump cited the renaming of bases called after Confederate generals and no action on Section 230 as reasons for not signing the bill into law.
The House and Senate will be in session early next week and plan to override the veto.
The Independent’s Griffin Connolly reports from Washington.
Trump vetoes $740bn US military bill over clause to rename bases honouring Confederates
Congress will override veto in votes early next weekOliver O’Connell26 December 2020 15:54
Christmas Day speech to troops – but no media allowed
Yesterday Donald Trump said he was making a Christmas Day speech to US troops overseas but that “Fake News” was not invited.
The outgoing president took to Twitter to make the announcement and insisted that journalists would not be invited to watch it.
Graeme Massie reports.
Donald Trump announces he made Christmas speech to deployed troops but ‘fake news’ wasn’t invited
Speech came hours after Mr Trump golfed in Florida with Lindsey GrahamOliver O’Connell26 December 2020 15:42
Graham: Trump ‘more determined than ever’ over $2,000 payments
A post-golf Christmas Day tweet from Senator Lindsey Graham. https://d-24363259131326988892.ampproject.net/2011252111003/frame.html Oliver O’Connell26 December 2020 15:30
Source:
Let wait and see, but for the bomb incident may almighty God continue to protect everyone of us!!