USA

Michigan Republican canvassers say they’ve received threats

LANSING, Mich. — Norm Shinkle, a Republican member of the board in charge of certifying Michigan’s election results, said Monday he received “quite a few” threats as he considered whether to validate the Nov. 3 vote.The Board of State Canvassers convened to consider certifying the state’s election tallies, which found Democratic President-elect Joe Biden won […]

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USA

OpEd: Trump, Bibi stand at edge of illegitimacy

We’ve long known about the problems at the top of government. Democracy or not, it ain’t easy holding together large and–inevitably– complex societies. And now the issue is highlighted in the two countries closest to me: Israel and the United States. In both cases the Prime Minister or President have reached the extreme of illegitimacy. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Feinstein to give up top spot on Senate Judiciary

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on Monday announced she will not seek the position of chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 117th Congress. Feinstein has served as ranking member of the Judiciary Committee since 2017 and previously served as chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and chairman of the Senate Rules Committee. She will continue to serve as a member of those committees next year, as well as remaining on the Senate Appropriations Committee. [Press Release from Senator Feinstein]

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USA

Secret Service planning for Trump spending lots of his post-presidency in Palm Beach

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Secret Service is planning for a stepped-up presence in Palm Beach County starting on Jan. 20 — when President Donald Trump adds “former” to his title and begins spending much more time at his Mar-a-Lago Club.Former presidents and former first ladies get Secret Service protection for life (although security details

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USA

Commentary: Rudy’s bitter end: A former friend and staffer tracks the mayor’s sad decline

I don’t care about Rudy Giuliani’s amateur-hour press conference outside Four Seasons Total Landscaping or his need for a cut man at last Thursday’s presser to stanch the flow of hair dye down his cheeks. I don’t care that he tucked in his shirt while lying on a hotel bed with a woman in the

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USA

Biden to pick ex-Fed chair Yellen for treasury secretary: WSJ

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate former Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen to become the next treasury secretary, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday, citing people familiar with the decision.Yellen has been among the possible picks for the role discussed by media outlets. If confirmed by the Senate, the 74-year-old economist would be the

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USA

John Kerry, who signed Paris accord for US, is Biden’s climate envoy

Washington (AFP) – Former secretary of state John Kerry helped broker the landmark Paris Agreement and signed it on behalf of the United States, a decision subsequently reversed by President Donald Trump.Now, he is set to be President-elect Joe Biden’s climate envoy, in a clear sign of the upcoming administration’s renewed commitment to fighting climate

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International, The World We Share, USA

Trump finally agrees to Biden transition – but still not conceding

Washington (AFP) – President Donald Trump came his closest yet to admitting election defeat Monday after the government agency meant to ease Joe Biden’s transition into the White House said it was finally lifting its unprecedented block on assistance.Trump acknowledged it was time for the General Services Administration to “do what needs to be done.”In

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USA

Dershowitz on Jonathan Pollard, U.S.-Israel Relations, U.S. Election

Famed trial attorney Alan Dershowitz said Monday in an interview with San Diego Jewish World that he hoped Secretary of State-designate Anthony Blinken would ignore any advice about Iran from former Secretary of State John Kerry “who signed the original agreement and the original agreement was a disaster for Israel.” Kerry, meanwhile, was designated by President-elect Joe Biden to lead U.S. efforts to combat climate change. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Jewish Clergy Lobby Congress to Combat Hunger

Some families are preparing for Thanksgiving meals from which relatives and close friends will be absent because of the coronavirus pandemic.  At the same time, other families aren’t even even sure they will have enough to eat on Thanksgiving or any other day as a result of the growing hunger and food insecurity around the country, according to officials of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Biden announces foreign policy, national security team

Washington (AFP) – US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday named the deeply experienced Antony Blinken for secretary of state, also nominating the first female head of intelligence and a czar for climate issues, with a promise to a return to expertise after the turbulent years of Donald Trump.As Trump continued to make flailing attempts at overturning

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International, Middle East, USA

Saudi official says ‘Israel normalisation talks’ did take place in NEOM, while foreign ministry denies

A Saudi official has told The Wall Street Journal that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did hold talks in the NEOM megacity on Sunday, with the kingdom’s foreign ministry strongly denying the reports.Prince Mohammed and Netanyahu reportedly held secret talks in NEOM late Sunday, according to flight data of

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Middle East, USA

SANDAG Reopens Bids for Historic Salomon Property

The future of Rancho Lilac, Valley Center’s historic and culturally-significant ranch, has been up in the air since 2011 when it was purchased by Caltrans in what is known as an environmental mitigation land exchange program.  There had been concern that the site could be permanently closed to public access. That apprehension appears to have been abated, at least for the present due to governmental action taken last week. [Robert Lerner]

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International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA

Biden to name longtime aide Blinken as US top diplomat: reports

Washington (AFP) – President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate seasoned diplomat Antony Blinken as his secretary of state, a decision likely to signal a return to multilateralism after Donald Trump’s shunning of traditional allies, US media reported Sunday.A mild-mannered policy wonk who is fluent in French and plays guitar on the side, the 58-year-old Blinken

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International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA