Cut to the News
Cut through the clutter to today's top news
December 9, 2020
Good morning
Welcome to today's top news.
Leading the News . . .
Supreme Court orders states to respond to Texas lawsuit . . .
The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday evening, December 8 ordered Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia to reply to a lawsuit filed this week by Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton.
That lawsuit asked the Supreme Court to order state legislatures in Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia and Pennsylvania to displace “tainted” election results in those States and choose their own slate of electors.
The Supreme Court posted online Tuesday evening: “Response to the motion for leave to file a bill of complaint and to the motion for a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order or, alternatively, for stay and administrative stay requested, due Thursday, December 10, by 3 pm.” Paxton sued battleground states on behalf of the State of Texas
saying the states made unconstitutional changes to their laws before the 2020 election. He said those states tainted the integrity of the vote in Texas and all states. CBS Dallas/Fort Worth
This is the only game in town. But I want to be honest with my readers: Don't get your hopes up.
Supreme Court refuses to take up GOP lawsuit over mail-in voting in Pennsylvania . . . The U.S. Supreme Court declined Tuesday to take up an appeal filed by a Republican congressman who asked the court to nullify the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential election in Pennsylvania. It was another blow to President Donald Trump's efforts to score a victory in court that would block a state's certification of the
vote. The court denied the appeal in a one-sentence order with no noted dissents. NBC News
Thanksgiving Covid surge begins . . . The first signs that the United States is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases following Thanksgiving are appearing, as a further 213,000 people test positive, hospitalizations continue to rise, and infections climb in 36 states. There are currently a record 104,600 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, yet experts warn that the surge in the past few days is only the beginning of the
Thanksgiving spike as they warn that December could be the most deadly month of the pandemic so far. Daily Mail
Government falls short of Covid PPE targets . . . The federal government has fallen well short of its goal to shore up an emergency stockpile of respirator masks and some other personal protective equipment for health workers amid the current surge in Covid-19 cases. The Trump administration said in May it was aiming to increase its emergency supply of N95 respirator masks to 300 million in the coming 90 days. It never met the goal; by
mid-November, the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile and the Federal Emergency Management Agency held 142 million N95 masks. The U.S. also has yet to develop a centralized database to distribute medical gear to all health providers. Wall Street Journal
Biden promises 100 million vaccines in first 100 days . . . Joe Biden vowed Tuesday that he would get 100 million coronavirus vaccines distributed to Americans within his first 100 days in office, claiming he will make it a requirement to wear a mask for those 100 days anywhere he can legally order it. 'This team will help get at the latest – at the last 100 million COVID-19 vaccine – at least 100 million COVID vaccine shots
into the arms of American people in the first 100 days,' Biden said, stumbling over the wording. He clarified: '100 million shots in the first 100 days.' Daily Mail
Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis tests positive after sitting next to Giuliani . . . Jenna Ellis, one of Donald Trump's campaign lawyers, is the latest on the president's team to test positive for coronavirus, a report revealed Tuesday, as his top lawyer Rudy Giuliani continues to receive treatment at the hospital after contracting the disease. Ellis, 36, has begun informing associates she tested positive. Sources who attended
an indoor Christmas party at the White House said she was not wearing a mask. It is unclear whether Ellis posed a risk to other attendees. Daily Mail
Nikki Haley's sister-in-law dies of Covid . . . Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley says her sister-in-law has died after contracting the coronavirus. Haley tweeted Tuesday evening that Rhonda Lee Nelson, sister of her husband Michael, “passed the day before Thanksgiving of Covid.” According to an online obituary, Nelson, 53, lived in West Milton, Ohio, and died Nov. 25. She was remembered as a singer and piano musician who
“ministered to many inside and outside of the church." Fox News
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Democratic push to beef up IRS spurs fears of re-politicization . . . House Democrats are pushing for expanding the IRS with $5.2 billion dedicated to “enforcement activities,” prompting concern from conservatives who recall the tax-collecting agency’s politicized targeting during the Obama administration. Investigations by an inspector general and subsequent congressional oversight determined the
agency’s exempt organization’s union unfairly targeted tea party and conservative groups. Fox News
Judge gives in and dismisses Michael Flynn case . . . Sounds like he’s pretty mad about it though. Maybe he will buy Flynn a new house, since the war hero has lost his defending himself after being entrapped by federal law enforcement. According to Fox News: Judge Emmet Sullivan dismissed the criminal case against former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn on Tuesday, putting an end to a case that took a number of turns after
Flynn’s initial guilty plea three years ago. Trump pardoned Flynn in late November after Sullivan refused to automatically grant the Justice Department’s motion to dismiss Flynn’s case earlier this year. White House Dossier
Biden inauguration to be "80% virtual" . . . Not sure how you quantify an inauguration, but you get the idea. According to the Washington Examiner: President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration will be mostly virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, who is one of five co-chairs for the inauguration, said on Tuesday that the Jan. 20 event will be 80% virtual. White House Dossier
Well, it will still be a socialist super-spreader event.
Forbes names Kamala Harris third most powerful woman in the world . . . Forbes has released its annual list of the most powerful women in the world, with Vice President-elect making her debut at number three, as German Chancellor claims the top spot for a tenth consecutive year. She overtakes last year's third-place winner, fellow Democrat and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , who is now ranked number seven. Daily Mail
Sorry about that, world.
Andrew Yang mulling run for mayor of New York . . . Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang is calling elected officials to gauge support for a possible bid to become New York City’s next mayor, according to several people involved in the talks. Yang, who championed a plan to provide all Americans a $1,000 monthly stipend, is also in talks with Tusk Strategies, the consulting firm that worked on Mike Bloomberg’s 2009 mayoral campaign, the
people said. Politico
Biden considering Buttigieg for ambassador to China . . . President-elect Joe Biden is reportedly considering his former competitor Pete Buttigieg ambassador to in China after ruling him out as his ambassador to the United Nations, Axios reported. China isn’t the only foreign post that Buttigieg could be selected for, and the former Democratic Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has communicated his interest in foreign policy and national
security positions in the incoming administration. Daily Caller
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Swalwell refuses to say if he had sex with Chinese spy . . . California congressman Eric Swalwell has refused to say whether he had a sexual relationship with a Chinese honeytrap spy because it is 'classified' as he blames President Trump for the revelations.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr described him as a 'threat to national security'. A Chinese national named Fang Fang or Christina Fang - allegedly an operative for China’s Ministry of State Security - targeted a group of Bay Area Democrats - including the congressman. Swalwell had immediately cut off ties with
her in 2015 when U.S. intelligence officials briefed him on their security concerns. Daily Mail
That means he did it.
Biden Pentagon pick Austin was accused of downplaying ISIS threat . . . Retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, who President-elect Joe Biden selected as his secretary of defense, was accused during the Obama administration of downplaying the threat posed by ISIS, allegations Austin vehemently
denied at the time but could be a roadblock to his Senate confirmation. The allegations stem from Austin’s tenure as commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which directed U.S. military operations in the Middle East against the Islamic State. A Defense Department inspector general’s report released on Jan. 31, 2017, cited witnesses who claimed that Austin did not like to receive bad news about ISIS and that he painted a “rosier” picture of the fight against the terror
group than was warranted. Daily Caller
China amassing US health data . . . China is amassing large quantities of private American health care data, including sensitive genetic information, as the coronavirus pandemic forces an unprecedented and often unregulated amount of cooperation between the U.S. government and
Communist-tied medical companies. China has "made collecting health care-related data a national priority," according to a new report. Washington Free Beacon
Army suspends or fires 14 in Fort Hood scandal . . . An independent investigation into tragedies at Fort Hood, including the bludgeoning murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillen, found that leadership at the Army's largest base created a "permissive environment" that let sexual harassment and assault and other crimes occur with little consequence. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said 14 Army leaders at Fort Hood have been fired or
suspended as a result of the report. Among those relieved of command was Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt, deputy commanding general for III Corps. USA Today
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Last chance for UK Brexit deal . . . The leaders of Britain and the European Union were meeting Wednesday for a dinner that could pave the way to a post-Brexit trade deal — or tip the two sides toward a chaotic economic rupture at the end of the month. Early-morning comments from both sides insisting that it was for the other to compromise only highlighted the difficult task ahead for U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. They have just a few hours over a multi-course meal to unstick negotiations that are deadlocked on key aspects of the future relationship for the EU and Britain. Associated Press
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Elon Musk the latest to flee California . . . Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed Tuesday he moved to Texas. Musk made the comment during an interview at The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council annual summit. For Musk, a move to Texas could mean potential savings of billions in tax dollars. His 2018 Tesla compensation package rewards him when the company hits certain milestones. California has the highest income tax in the
country, while Texas has no state income tax. The CEO is also moving his private foundation to Austin. USA Today
A lot of people are leaving California for Texas. Unfortunately, they're bringing their politics with them.
Pelosi, Schumer cite progress in stimulus talks . . . Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.) on Tuesday evening criticized what they deemed presidential obstruction on COVID-19 relief talks while emphasizing "progress" in negotiations after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) signed off on a new, bigger relief $916B proposal. The Hill
Support grows to stimulus checks in relief package . . . Support grew on Tuesday for including a new round of stimulus checks in the COVID-19 relief package being negotiated on Capitol Hill, even as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle indicated that any direct payments are more likely to be part of a follow-up measure next year.
President Trump has long supported direct payments, and White House officials are asking Senate Republicans to include $600 checks in a package. The
Hill
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Dictionary changes definition of "court packing" to suit Democrats . . . A Nov. 1 archive shows a definition of court packing that is based off of U.S. history, specifically Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “unsuccessful attempt … in 1937 to appoint up to six additional justices to the Supreme Court, which had invalidated a number of his New Deal laws.” A month later, the primary definition changed. As
of Dec. 1, the definition of the term was “the practice of changing the number or composition of judges on a court, making it more favorable to particular goals or ideologies, and typically involving an increase in the number of seats on the court.” Daily Caller
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Woke Santa resigns after refusing boy a toy gun . . . An Illinois mall Santa Claus resigned this week after a now-viral video showed him telling a young boy he couldn’t bring him a Nerf gun for Christmas. The Santa at Harlem Irving Plaza in Norridge, who was later dubbed “Woke Santa” on social media, was seen telling the boy “no guns” and causing the boy to burst into tears. “Not even
a Nerf gun,” Santa said in the video posted on Facebook Sunday. “Nope. If your dad wants to get it for you that’s fine, but I can’t bring it to you. What else would you like? There’s lots of other toys — there’s Legos, bicycles, there’s cars and trucks. What do you think?” Washington
Times
I think I'm going to bring my kids to the range around Christmastime if it's open.
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Keith
Keith Koffler
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