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Biden attacks Trump's 'rushed and unprecedented' confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett – US politics live Biden attacks Trump's 'rushed and unprecedented' confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett – US politics live
(32 minutes later)
President hosted Barrett for swearing-in ceremony outside White House administered by Clarence ThomasPresident hosted Barrett for swearing-in ceremony outside White House administered by Clarence Thomas
Our Today in Focus podcast this morning is looking at the US election and asking are Democrats taking black voters for granted in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has come to play a crucial role in deciding the presidential election. In 2008 and 2012, Barack Obama comfortably won there. But in 2016, Donald Trump took the state by a margin of just 23,000 votes. That year, 93,000 black voters in the city of Milwaukee stayed home on election day.
Our reporter Kenya Evelyn grew up in Milwaukee. She recently returned to see how this year’s pandemic, recession and Black Lives Matter protests are shifting the city’s politics.
She tells Mythili Rao what she heard when she spoke to black voters about what this election means to them. The Democrats had expected to hold their convention in Milwaukee – but when the pandemic forced the party to go virtual, an anticipated $200m economic boom instead spiralled into a substantial loss. The pivot was also the final straw for many of the city’s African American residents. Many activists told Evelyn that it could stifle local efforts to solicit enthusiasm for Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris.
Talking of India, Sudarshan Varadhan reports for Reuters this morning from Thulasendrapuram, which he describes as a lush, green south Indian village that is praying for a Democratic Party’s victory in the presidential election. Why? Because the village, located about 320 km (200 miles) south of the city of Chennai, is where Kamala Harris’s maternal grandfather was born more than a century ago. The village is proudly displaying banners of Harris.
Varadhan says residents beam with pride at what the first US senator of South Asian descent has already achieved, and many are rooting for an election result that will make her the second-most powerful person in the world’s richest country.
“From Thulasendrapuram to America”, declares one of the nearly dozen banners from where Harris smiles out in the village. “We, the people of Thulasendrapuram, wish for the electoral success of American vice president nominee Kamala Harris, whose ancestors were a native of Thulasendrapuram.”
Harris’s grandfather P.V. Gopalan and his family migrated to Chennai nearly 90 years ago, where he retired as a high-ranking government official.
The banners, with messages written in Tamil, were put up on the directions of M. Gurunathan, the head of Thulasendrapuram’s village committee that oversees its more than 200 mostly farming families.
“We are really hoping she wins,” said Gurunathan, who is planning to hold a special prayer at the local temple on election day. “The village has received global fame because of her. She is our pride.”
Harris’s name is also seen sculpted into a stone that lists public donations made to the temple, along with that of her grandfather who had donated decades ago. Her aunt offered 5,000 rupees ($67) in her name after she was appointed the attorney general of California, the temple’s caretaker, S.V. Ramanan, said.
Also on a foreign policy front, secretary of state Mike Pompeo is in India at the moment. He has paid respects at the National War Memorial, and then stated India and the United States are cooperating to take on all threats, including China.
“Today is a new opportunity for two great democracies like ours to grow closer,” Pompeo said before the talks with Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and defence minister Rajnath Singh.
“There is much more work to do for sure. We have a lot to discuss today: Our cooperation on the pandemic that originated in Wuhan, to confronting the Chinese Communist Party’s threats to security and freedom to promoting peace and stability throughout the region.*
The two countries have signed an agreement on sharing geospatial data, which Singh has said is a “significant achievement”.
On coronavirus, Pompeo said US companies are making efforts to sell Gilead’s Remdesivir drug to India. India is on course to shortly reach 8 million cases, and has the second highest case count in the world behind the US.
China, perhaps unsurprisingly, has not taken too kindly to Pompeo’s words. Reuters report that Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news briefing in Beijing. “We urge Pompeo to abandon his Cold War mentality, zero-sum mindset, and stop harping on the ‘China threat’”.
A very quick snap here – an American citizen was kidnapped near the town of Birnin Konni in southern Niger in the early hours of Tuesday morning, three security sources and a local official told Reuters.A very quick snap here – an American citizen was kidnapped near the town of Birnin Konni in southern Niger in the early hours of Tuesday morning, three security sources and a local official told Reuters.
The details of the kidnapping were not immediately clear, and no one had claimed responsibility.
Niger is struggling with a security crisis as groups with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State carry out an increasing number of attacks on the army and civilians, particularly in the west region bordering Mali and Burkina Faso. Birnin Konni is a few hundred miles to the east of that region, near the border with Nigeria.
CNN have a run-down on what Amy Coney Barrett can expect to find in her in-tray as she takes her place on the supreme court. They highlight:CNN have a run-down on what Amy Coney Barrett can expect to find in her in-tray as she takes her place on the supreme court. They highlight:
Trump taxes case – the justices are primed to decide soon whether a New York prosecutor will get access to Trump’s financial documents from January 2011 to August 2019, including his tax returns. Last July, the Supreme Court, voting 7-2, rejected the President’s broad claims of immunity.Trump taxes case – the justices are primed to decide soon whether a New York prosecutor will get access to Trump’s financial documents from January 2011 to August 2019, including his tax returns. Last July, the Supreme Court, voting 7-2, rejected the President’s broad claims of immunity.
Pennsylvania ballot extensions – Republicans in Pennsylvania asked the Supreme Court on Friday to block a ballot receipt extension that would allow them to be counted if they are received within three days of Election Day – even if they do not have a legible postmark.Pennsylvania ballot extensions – Republicans in Pennsylvania asked the Supreme Court on Friday to block a ballot receipt extension that would allow them to be counted if they are received within three days of Election Day – even if they do not have a legible postmark.
North Carolina ballot counting extension – Republicans in North Carolina are asking the Supreme Court to block a nine-day extension of the counting of ballots if they are received by Election Day and reinstate a three-day extension established by the legislature last June.North Carolina ballot counting extension – Republicans in North Carolina are asking the Supreme Court to block a nine-day extension of the counting of ballots if they are received by Election Day and reinstate a three-day extension established by the legislature last June.
Minnesota congressional election date – a Republican candidate for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District is asking the justices to intervene in a case concerning whether his election takes place on November 3 or on February 9, 2021, after the recent death of Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate Adam Weeks caused the contest to be moved to next year as required by state law.Minnesota congressional election date – a Republican candidate for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District is asking the justices to intervene in a case concerning whether his election takes place on November 3 or on February 9, 2021, after the recent death of Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate Adam Weeks caused the contest to be moved to next year as required by state law.
Mississippi abortion case – the case pertains to Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, which Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed into law in 2018. The law made exceptions only for medical emergencies or cases in which there’s a “severe fetal abnormality,” but not for incidents of rape or incest.Mississippi abortion case – the case pertains to Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, which Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed into law in 2018. The law made exceptions only for medical emergencies or cases in which there’s a “severe fetal abnormality,” but not for incidents of rape or incest.
Read more here: CNN – Trump’s taxes, election and abortion cases await Amy Coney Barrett in her first weekRead more here: CNN – Trump’s taxes, election and abortion cases await Amy Coney Barrett in her first week
Even before Amy Cony Barrett takes her seat, there’s a sign of things to come with judgements over the election, as yesterday the supreme court sided with Republicans to prevent Wisconsin from counting mail-in ballots that are received after election day. Maanvi Singh and Sam Levine report:Even before Amy Cony Barrett takes her seat, there’s a sign of things to come with judgements over the election, as yesterday the supreme court sided with Republicans to prevent Wisconsin from counting mail-in ballots that are received after election day. Maanvi Singh and Sam Levine report:
Read more here: Wisconsin can’t count mail-in ballots received after election day, supreme court rulesRead more here: Wisconsin can’t count mail-in ballots received after election day, supreme court rules
There’s been an understandable focus on the possible impact of seating Amy Coney Barrett on healthcare during a pandemic. But the potential impacts of her ruling on the Affordable Care Act go much further than coronavirus, as Katelyn Burns writes for us today:There’s been an understandable focus on the possible impact of seating Amy Coney Barrett on healthcare during a pandemic. But the potential impacts of her ruling on the Affordable Care Act go much further than coronavirus, as Katelyn Burns writes for us today:
Read more here: As the future of Obamacare heads to the supreme court, so does trans rightsRead more here: As the future of Obamacare heads to the supreme court, so does trans rights
Here’s what the New York Times editorial board had to say about the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett:Here’s what the New York Times editorial board had to say about the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett:
Read more here: New York Times – the Republican party’s supreme courtRead more here: New York Times – the Republican party’s supreme court
Away from the election and the supreme court for a moment, California is bracing for another round of fire danger from gusts even as crews battle two southern blazes that have left more than 100,000 under evacuation orders.Away from the election and the supreme court for a moment, California is bracing for another round of fire danger from gusts even as crews battle two southern blazes that have left more than 100,000 under evacuation orders.
Associated Press report that some of the fiercest winds of the fire season drove fires up and down the state Sunday night and Monday before easing, but they were expected to resume overnight and continue into Tuesday morning.Associated Press report that some of the fiercest winds of the fire season drove fires up and down the state Sunday night and Monday before easing, but they were expected to resume overnight and continue into Tuesday morning.
Forecasts predicted Santa Ana winds up to 50 to 80 mph (80 to 128 kph) at times over much of Southern California, with some of the strongest gusts howling through Orange County, where two blazes sped through brushy hills near major urban centers.Forecasts predicted Santa Ana winds up to 50 to 80 mph (80 to 128 kph) at times over much of Southern California, with some of the strongest gusts howling through Orange County, where two blazes sped through brushy hills near major urban centers.
A fire that broke out around dawn Monday prompted evacuation orders for thousands of homes in the area of Irvine, while a few miles away another blaze did the same in the Yorba Linda area. More than 100,000 people were told to flee the fast-moving flames.A fire that broke out around dawn Monday prompted evacuation orders for thousands of homes in the area of Irvine, while a few miles away another blaze did the same in the Yorba Linda area. More than 100,000 people were told to flee the fast-moving flames.
Two firefighters, one 26 and the other 31 years old, were critically injured while battling the larger blaze near Irvine, according to the county’s Fire Authority. They each suffered second- and third-degree burns over large portions of their bodies and were intubated at a hospital, officials said.Two firefighters, one 26 and the other 31 years old, were critically injured while battling the larger blaze near Irvine, according to the county’s Fire Authority. They each suffered second- and third-degree burns over large portions of their bodies and were intubated at a hospital, officials said.
Pat McGrath, 78, of Irvine, went to a shelter after a stranger pounded on her door Monday as she made breakfast. The stranger told her about the evacuation orders.Pat McGrath, 78, of Irvine, went to a shelter after a stranger pounded on her door Monday as she made breakfast. The stranger told her about the evacuation orders.
“I just panicked. I started crying,” McGrath, who has no family on the West Coast, told the Los Angeles Times. “I’m cold, I’m hungry, I’m stressed and I don’t know what to do.”“I just panicked. I started crying,” McGrath, who has no family on the West Coast, told the Los Angeles Times. “I’m cold, I’m hungry, I’m stressed and I don’t know what to do.”
Our US election polls tracker currently has Joe Biden leading in six of the eight states we are closely watching, including Arizona. Our rolling 14-day average of the polls gives Biden the edge in Arizona 3.7 points. A lot of the leads though are well within the margin of error for polling, and so next Tuesday night is going to be tight and tense.Our US election polls tracker currently has Joe Biden leading in six of the eight states we are closely watching, including Arizona. Our rolling 14-day average of the polls gives Biden the edge in Arizona 3.7 points. A lot of the leads though are well within the margin of error for polling, and so next Tuesday night is going to be tight and tense.
There’s a week to go. Lauren Gambino and Maanvi Singh have been looking for us at the Arizona county that could decide the future of Trump – and AmericaThere’s a week to go. Lauren Gambino and Maanvi Singh have been looking for us at the Arizona county that could decide the future of Trump – and America
Read more here: The Arizona county that could decide the future of Trump – and AmericaRead more here: The Arizona county that could decide the future of Trump – and America
Ruth Marcus writes for the Washington Post this morning that Amy Coney Barrett joins a court that is largely out of step with the US public – not just on what they think, but literally on how they have voted over the last decades.Ruth Marcus writes for the Washington Post this morning that Amy Coney Barrett joins a court that is largely out of step with the US public – not just on what they think, but literally on how they have voted over the last decades.
Read more here: Washington Post – Amy Coney Barrett joins a Supreme Court that’s largely out of step with the national consensusRead more here: Washington Post – Amy Coney Barrett joins a Supreme Court that’s largely out of step with the national consensus
There were contrasting reactions to the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett on the Twitter streams of the two main opponents in next week’s US election. Donald Trump proudly posted a video of the ceremony, with this voiceover saying:There were contrasting reactions to the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett on the Twitter streams of the two main opponents in next week’s US election. Donald Trump proudly posted a video of the ceremony, with this voiceover saying:
By contrast, Joe Biden tweeted that the “rushed and unprecedented confirmation” taking place in the middle of an election “should be a stark reminder to every American that your vote matters.”By contrast, Joe Biden tweeted that the “rushed and unprecedented confirmation” taking place in the middle of an election “should be a stark reminder to every American that your vote matters.”
His full statement on her confirmation specifically addressed the threat that the Democratic party sees in her nomination to the nation’s healthcare provision.His full statement on her confirmation specifically addressed the threat that the Democratic party sees in her nomination to the nation’s healthcare provision.