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Controversial Arizona ‘audit’ shows Trump lost by even more votes – live updates Controversial Arizona ‘audit’ shows Trump lost by even more votes – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Report confirmed what was already known: Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump Arizona’s largest county and the state overallReport confirmed what was already known: Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump Arizona’s largest county and the state overall
Karen Bass, a Democratic congresswoman from California, is reportedly planning to run for Los Angeles mayor. The Washington Post first reported the news.
Although the field is still shaping up, Bass’ national profile and broad popularity would make her a top contender for the position Eric Garcetti is vacating to be ambassador to India.
Bass, 67, was on the short list to be Joe Biden’s vice-president. Her name has also come up in discussions of who might replace Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker.
In California, she has built a reputation as a progressive and a pragmatist: a community organizer who fought police brutality and addiction in Los Angeles and a practical politician who helped dig the state out of a historical fiscal crisis in 2008.
She was elected to Congress in 2010 to lead one of the most diverse districts in California, a constituency in Los Angeles that is 25% white, 25% Black, 40% Latino and 8% Asian American.
In the House, she took the lead in pushing for a police reform bill which passed her chamber twice but failed this week after negotiators conceded that Senate Democrats and Republicans would be unable to reconcile their differences.
“It’s sad,” she told the LA Times in an interview published Friday morning. “But at this point, I just felt like we were just running around in circles and we were never going to get to yes on anything.”
Still, she told reporters earlier this week, “our sense of urgency remains”.
Bass urged Biden and his administration to “use the full extent of their constitutionally mandated power to bring about meaningful police reform”.
In LA, Bass is interested in addressing homelessness and public health in the aftermath of the pandemic, a spokesperson said.
Other mayoral candidates include city council member and former state Senate leader Kevin de León, city attorney Mike Feuer and council member Joe Buscain.
Telling Democrats “that intensity continues”, the House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has confirmed plans to press ahead with efforts to pass both a bipartisan infrastructure bill and Joe Biden’s huge budget and spending package.
“We move forward to pass two jobs bills next week: the Build Back Better Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework,” Pelosi wrote in a widely reported letter to her party on Friday.
On the spending bill, which runs to 2,465 pages or more than two War & Peaces if you go by the first edition of Leo Tolstoy’s voluminous potboiler, Manu Raju of CNN more succinctly reports: “House Democratic leaders emerge from meeting saying they could vote as soon as next week on the reconciliation bill. Rules [committee] could act on Tuesday. [Majority leader Steney] Hoyer will soon announce it’s possible.”
Reconciliation is the process by which budgetary legislation can pass the Senate with a simple majority. That chamber is split 50-50, with Vice-President Kamala Harris the deciding vote.
“It’s unclear what version they could bring to floor since Democrats are still in significant disagreement,” Raju added.
He was referring to splits between moderates and progressives over spending priorities and ambitions, all playing out in a way that a) threatens to tank Biden’s domestic agenda in a bloody tableau of intra-party dysfunction and b) has Republicans rubbing their hands with glee, what with their complete opposition to such plans and also their determination to force a showdown over the debt ceiling and with it a possible government shutdown.
In short, Pelosi’s right. The intensity will continue.
An extraordinary confrontation outside the Capitol today, between the Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell and Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far right Republican from Georgia.An extraordinary confrontation outside the Capitol today, between the Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell and Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far right Republican from Georgia.
As reported by Ben Siegel of ABC News, the confrontation developed as Democrats prepared to host a press conference on the Capitol steps about abortion rights, after voting to protect them in the face of concerted assault from Republican-run states.As reported by Ben Siegel of ABC News, the confrontation developed as Democrats prepared to host a press conference on the Capitol steps about abortion rights, after voting to protect them in the face of concerted assault from Republican-run states.
“Stand with women,” Greene shouted.“Stand with women,” Greene shouted.
“You’re performative,” Pete Aguilar, a Democrat from California, replied.“You’re performative,” Pete Aguilar, a Democrat from California, replied.
Dingell then shouted: “You should practice the basic thing you’re taught in church: respect your neighbour!”Dingell then shouted: “You should practice the basic thing you’re taught in church: respect your neighbour!”
Greene shouted back: “Church?! Are you kidding me? Try being a Christian and supporting life.”Greene shouted back: “Church?! Are you kidding me? Try being a Christian and supporting life.”
Dingell responded: “You try being a Christian and try treating your colleagues decently.”Dingell responded: “You try being a Christian and try treating your colleagues decently.”
Greene said: “Watch your step.”Greene said: “Watch your step.”
She may have meant it literally, as Dingell briefly and slightly unsteadily stepped down towards her.She may have meant it literally, as Dingell briefly and slightly unsteadily stepped down towards her.
If the confrontation was not quite reminiscent of those described in The Field of Blood (the title of a well-received book by the historian Joanne B Freeman, about brutal spats between members of Congress in the years before the civil war) it was certainly indicative of the bitter split between most members of Congress – and the US at large. If the confrontation was not quite reminiscent of those described in The Field of Blood (a well-received book by the historian Joanne B Freeman, about brutal spats in Congress in the years before the civil war) it was certainly indicative of the bitter split between most members of Congress – and the US at large.
Here’s Lauren Gambino’s report on the vote on abortion rights which preceded the confrontation at the Capitol:Here’s Lauren Gambino’s report on the vote on abortion rights which preceded the confrontation at the Capitol:
Here’s where the day stands so far:Here’s where the day stands so far:
The sham election “audit” in Maricopa county found that Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by 360 more votes than previously thought. A draft report of the audit’s findings affirmed that Biden won Arizona’s most populous county last year. The investigation, which was overseen by a firm whose CEO had promoted lies about election fraud, had attracted many allegations of political bias.The sham election “audit” in Maricopa county found that Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by 360 more votes than previously thought. A draft report of the audit’s findings affirmed that Biden won Arizona’s most populous county last year. The investigation, which was overseen by a firm whose CEO had promoted lies about election fraud, had attracted many allegations of political bias.
Biden pledged that there would be “consequences” for border agents accused of mistreating Haitian migrants. Taking reporters’ questions after delivering prepared remarks on vaccination efforts, Biden said the footage of border agents on horseback confronting migrants was “horrible”. “It’s outrageous. I promise you, those people will pay,” the president said.Biden pledged that there would be “consequences” for border agents accused of mistreating Haitian migrants. Taking reporters’ questions after delivering prepared remarks on vaccination efforts, Biden said the footage of border agents on horseback confronting migrants was “horrible”. “It’s outrageous. I promise you, those people will pay,” the president said.
House Democrats passed a bill to establish a federal right to abortion. The nearly party-line vote came weeks after a highly controversial six-week abortion ban went into effect in Texas, leading to copy cat bills in other states. The House-approved legislation is considered dead on arrival in the evenly controlled Senate.House Democrats passed a bill to establish a federal right to abortion. The nearly party-line vote came weeks after a highly controversial six-week abortion ban went into effect in Texas, leading to copy cat bills in other states. The House-approved legislation is considered dead on arrival in the evenly controlled Senate.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
The debate ahead of the abortion vote was passionate and personal, as was expected for what has become one of the most polarizing issues in American politics.The debate ahead of the abortion vote was passionate and personal, as was expected for what has become one of the most polarizing issues in American politics.
Some Democrats recalled the days before 1973, when the supreme court decided Roe v Wade, establishing a legal right to abortion nationwide.Some Democrats recalled the days before 1973, when the supreme court decided Roe v Wade, establishing a legal right to abortion nationwide.
“Roe v Wade was not the beginning of women having abortions,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Democrat from Illinois. “It was the end of women dying from abortions.”“Roe v Wade was not the beginning of women having abortions,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Democrat from Illinois. “It was the end of women dying from abortions.”
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, a Democrat of Texas, waved a wire coat hanger as a symbol of the dangerous – and sometimes deadly – methods women would use to attempt an abortion before it was legalized.Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, a Democrat of Texas, waved a wire coat hanger as a symbol of the dangerous – and sometimes deadly – methods women would use to attempt an abortion before it was legalized.
Republicans rose to denounce the bill, arguing that it would allow “abortion on demand” at every stage of pregnancy, even until birth.Republicans rose to denounce the bill, arguing that it would allow “abortion on demand” at every stage of pregnancy, even until birth.
The measure “isn’t about freedom for women,” said Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, a Republican from Missouri. “It’s about death for babies.”The measure “isn’t about freedom for women,” said Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, a Republican from Missouri. “It’s about death for babies.”
House Democrats voted on Friday to establish a federal right to abortion, moving swiftly to advance the measure after the supreme court declined to stop a Texas law effectively outlawing the procedure and as they await a separate ruling next year that could further erode access.House Democrats voted on Friday to establish a federal right to abortion, moving swiftly to advance the measure after the supreme court declined to stop a Texas law effectively outlawing the procedure and as they await a separate ruling next year that could further erode access.
The legislation, named the Women’s Health and Protection Act, is part of the party’s strategy to push back against the rush of state laws restricting abortions and to show their determination to defend reproductive rights, an issue they believe will resonate ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.The legislation, named the Women’s Health and Protection Act, is part of the party’s strategy to push back against the rush of state laws restricting abortions and to show their determination to defend reproductive rights, an issue they believe will resonate ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.
Joe Biden has urged support for the measure, but Republican opposition in the Senate all but ensures the bill will not reach his desk.Joe Biden has urged support for the measure, but Republican opposition in the Senate all but ensures the bill will not reach his desk.
With the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, presiding over the vote, the House passed the measure 218-211. All Republicans and one Democrat opposed the bill.With the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, presiding over the vote, the House passed the measure 218-211. All Republicans and one Democrat opposed the bill.
The scramble to secure a remote connection for Kamala Harris severely delayed her interview with The View, so the conversation kicked off with about ten minutes left in the show.The scramble to secure a remote connection for Kamala Harris severely delayed her interview with The View, so the conversation kicked off with about ten minutes left in the show.
When the interview finally began, the View hosts pressed Harris on the Biden administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal and immigration policies.When the interview finally began, the View hosts pressed Harris on the Biden administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal and immigration policies.
Asked about the alarming footage of border agents on horseback confronting Haitian migrants in Del Rio, Texas, Harris said she was “outraged” by the images.Asked about the alarming footage of border agents on horseback confronting Haitian migrants in Del Rio, Texas, Harris said she was “outraged” by the images.
Noting that there is an investigation underway into the border agents’ behavior, Harris said, “There needs to be consequence and accountability. Human beings should not be treated that way.”Noting that there is an investigation underway into the border agents’ behavior, Harris said, “There needs to be consequence and accountability. Human beings should not be treated that way.”
Asked whether the Biden administration would halt deportation flights to allow those migrants to apply for asylum, Harris deflected, simply saying the US must “do more” to support Haiti.Asked whether the Biden administration would halt deportation flights to allow those migrants to apply for asylum, Harris deflected, simply saying the US must “do more” to support Haiti.
Kamala Harris’ plans to appear in-studio for an interview on The View were scrapped after two of the talk show’s hosts tested positive for coronavirus.Kamala Harris’ plans to appear in-studio for an interview on The View were scrapped after two of the talk show’s hosts tested positive for coronavirus.
Moments before the vice-president was supposed to come onstage, it was announced that hosts Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro had tested positive for Covid.Moments before the vice-president was supposed to come onstage, it was announced that hosts Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro had tested positive for Covid.
So the interview, which was meant to be Harris’ first in-studio conversation since becoming vice-president, was conducted remotely.So the interview, which was meant to be Harris’ first in-studio conversation since becoming vice-president, was conducted remotely.
When the interview finally began, Harris offered her best wishes to Hostin and Navarro, both of whom are fully vaccinated.When the interview finally began, Harris offered her best wishes to Hostin and Navarro, both of whom are fully vaccinated.
“Sunny and Ana are strong women, and I know they’re fine, but it really also does speak to the fact that they’re vaccinated and vaccines really make all the difference because otherwise we would be concerned about hospitalization and worse,” Harris said to applause from the studio audience.“Sunny and Ana are strong women, and I know they’re fine, but it really also does speak to the fact that they’re vaccinated and vaccines really make all the difference because otherwise we would be concerned about hospitalization and worse,” Harris said to applause from the studio audience.
Joe Biden will host the first in-person summit of the Quad countries – the US, India, Japan and Australia – at the White House on Friday as he ratchets up the reorientation of US foreign policy towards the Pacific and the containment of China.Joe Biden will host the first in-person summit of the Quad countries – the US, India, Japan and Australia – at the White House on Friday as he ratchets up the reorientation of US foreign policy towards the Pacific and the containment of China.
The summit, which will seek to deepen ties within the ad hoc grouping, will take place just nine days after the surprise announcement of the Aukus security agreement between Australia, the UK and US, built around the sharing of nuclear-propulsion technology with Australia for its new submarine fleet.The summit, which will seek to deepen ties within the ad hoc grouping, will take place just nine days after the surprise announcement of the Aukus security agreement between Australia, the UK and US, built around the sharing of nuclear-propulsion technology with Australia for its new submarine fleet.
Aukus and an invigorated Quad are the two central pillars of the US president’s signature foreign policy, which some are calling the Biden doctrine: bolstering the world’s democracies against the spread of authoritarianism by building a web of alliances.Aukus and an invigorated Quad are the two central pillars of the US president’s signature foreign policy, which some are calling the Biden doctrine: bolstering the world’s democracies against the spread of authoritarianism by building a web of alliances.
Joe Biden is now meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office, ahead of the first-ever in-person Quad leaders summit this afternoon.Joe Biden is now meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office, ahead of the first-ever in-person Quad leaders summit this afternoon.
Welcoming Modi to the White House, Biden said, “Mr Prime Minister, we’re going to continue to build on our strong partnership.”Welcoming Modi to the White House, Biden said, “Mr Prime Minister, we’re going to continue to build on our strong partnership.”
The Guardian’s David Smith shared a photo from the two leaders’ meeting:The Guardian’s David Smith shared a photo from the two leaders’ meeting:
The Democratic National Committee condemned the sham election “audit” in Arizona as a “dangerous attempt by extremist Republicans to undermine our democracy”.
“Arizona Republicans — not to mention their copycats in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and other states — have been beholden to Donald Trump’s unhinged conspiracy theories that incited a mob to attack the Capitol and law enforcement,” DNC spokesperson Ryan Thomas said in a statement.
“Every Republican peddling election misinformation will have to explain to their constituents why they spent their time undermining democracy on behalf of Donald Trump instead of delivering for their constituents.”
The Guardian’s Sam Levine and Oliver Milman have more details on the sham election “audit” in Arizona:
Donald Trump has repeatedly falsely claimed that he won the election and was a victim of fraud, despite no evidence of this, and state Republicans in Arizona seized upon these lies to demand an audit of vote in Maricopa county.
Earlier this year, Maricopa county hired two firms to audit its elections equipment and software, with these reviews finding no problems with the systems reviewed.
This wasn’t enough for the state senate, controlled by Republicans, however, which hired Cyber Ninjas for the controversial audit.
The recounting process was dogged with allegations of ballots being mishandled and cybersecurity concerns, with workers at one point using UV lights to check for bamboo fibers in ballots, part of a conspiracy theory that China had somehow planted votes into Arizona’s election. The review concluded in July.
While the draft report does not claim that Trump did beat Biden in Arizona, it does criticize the state for the handling and integrity of how the election was run.
Maricopa county’s board of supervisors has rejected this, stating on its Twitter feed that the report’s allegations are “littered with errors & faulty conclusions”.
Joe Biden expressed confidence that Democrats will be able to pass both the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the reconciliation package, even as moderates and progressives remain at odds.
“This is a process, and it’s going to be up and down. That’s why I don’t look at the polls. Not a joke,” Biden said.
“And hopefully at the end of the day, I’ll be able to deliver on what I said I would do.”
Multiple recent polls have shown that Biden’s approval rating is now underwater, as he weathers criticism for everything from the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal to the possible government shutdown.
Joe Biden was asked for his response to criticism that he has not delivered on his campaign promises, as the country faces the possibility of both a government shutdown and an economic default.
“Remember I said it’s going to take me a year to deliver everything I’m looking at here,” the president said.
“Take a look at what I inherited when I came into office,” Biden added. “Part of it is dealing with the panoply of things that landed on my plate. I’m not complaining, it’s just a reality.”
Joe Biden took several questions from reporters after concluding his prepared remarks on efforts to get more Americans vaccinated against coronavirus.
Unsurprisingly, the first question focused on his administration’s treatment of Haitian migrants who have recently arrived at the US-Mexican border in large numbers.
Biden was asked whether he takes responsibility for border agents’ behavior toward the migrants. Some disturbing footage from Del Rio, Texas, showed border agents on horseback confronting a group of migrants.
“Of course I take responsibility. I’m president,” Biden said, adding that the footage was “horrible”.
“It’s outrageous. I promise you, those people will pay,” the president said, pointing to the investigation that is underway. “There will be consequences.”
Biden also warned that such behavior was “dangerous” and “sends the wrong message around the world”.
“It’s simply not who we are,” Biden concluded.
Joe Biden delivered remarks this morning on his administration’s efforts to boost vaccination rates in the US.
The president celebrated the news that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has officially approved Pfizer coronavirus vaccine booster shots for high-risk populations, including those who are 65 or older.
The 78-year-old president said he would be receiving his booster shot “as soon as I can.”(Biden received his second Pfizer dose in January.)
The president also once again urged all eligible Americans to get vaccinated, emphasizing that lower vaccination rates pose a threat to entire communities.
Biden noted that one-quarter of all eligible Americans have not yet gotten a single vaccine dose.
“In a country as large as ours, that 25% minority can cause an awful lot of damage. And they are causing a lot of damage,” Biden said. “The refusal to get vaccinated has cost all of us.”
The president is now taking questions from reporters, so stay tuned.
House Democrats are now requesting the testimony of Doug Logan, the CEO of Cyber Ninjas, which oversaw the sham “audit” in Maricopa county.
Carolyn Maloney, the chairwoman of the House oversight committee, and Jamie Raskin, the chairman of the subcommittee on civil rights and civil liberties, sent a letter to Logan asking him to appear at a hearing on October 7.
“This request follows your repeated refusal to produce documents requested by the Committee regarding this largely privately funded audit,” Maloney and Raskin wrote.
“As a result of your obstruction, your participation in a Committee hearing is necessary for the Committee to advance the investigation of the questionable audit your company performed and to examine whether this audit is interfering with Americans’ right to vote free from partisan interference.”
It’s unclear whether Logan, who has expressed support for the baseless conspiracy theory that there was widespread fraud in the 2020 election, will actually appear at the hearing.
The Maricopa county “audit” was conducted by Cyber Ninjas, a Florida-based cybersecurity firm with little experience in elections.
The CEO of Cyber Ninjas, Doug Logan, had previously promoted the baseless conspiracy theory that there was widespread fraud in the 2020 election.
According to the Arizona Mirror, in December 2020, Logan retweeted a tweet from a since-suspended account reading, “I’m tired of hearing people say there was no fraud. It happened, it’s real, and people better get wise fast.”
Of course, Donald Trump and his allies have presented absolutely no evidence of widespread fraud in the election, which Joe Biden fairly won.
The Guardian’s Sam Levine and Oliver Milman report:
Even though the “audit” was sanctioned by the GOP-controlled Arizona senate, it was funded by $5.7m in outside money, much of which came from conspiracy theorists, including $3.2m from Patrick Byrne, the former CEO of Overstock.com and an additional $1m from a non-profit founded by Michael Flynn.
Election experts have widely panned the review, which they say was rooted in shoddy practice around a pre-determined effort to show there was fraud.
Ben Ginsberg, a longtime Republican election lawyer, told reporters on Thursday that Trump allies were “desperate for a win”.
In Maricopa county, he said, they had gotten unprecedented access to look under the hood of an election. If they were not able to prove fraud there, they were unlikely to prove it anywhere else.
Regardless of what the report says, Republican efforts to conduct similar reviews are underway. Republicans in both the Wisconsin and Pennsylvania legislatures are moving forward with similar probes in to the 2020 race.
And on Thursday, Donald Trump called for a review of the 2020 race in Texas, a state he carried in 2020 by nearly 6 points. Experts worry that the reviews suggest a new normal, where the losers of elections simply refuse to accept the results.
Greetings, live blog readers.
The highly controversial “audit” of 2020 ballots has now concluded in Maricopa county, Arizona, and a report was released of its early findings.
And that report confirmed what was already known: Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump Arizona’s largest county (and the state overall).
The Arizona Republic reports:
The audit was demanded and then promoted by Trump’s allies, who have continued to peddle the “big lie” of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.
And Trump supporters have called for similar “audits” in many other US states and counties, almost a year after the election took place.
Perhaps the Arizona results will discourage some of the former president’s fans from pursuing these sham investigations. But this blogger is skeptical of that.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.