LATE NEWS: A Joint Session of the U.S. Senate and House, presided over by Vice President Mike Pence, certified the electoral college victory of Democrat Joe Biden as the next President of the United States and Kamala Harris as the next Vice President, defeating incumbent Republican President Donald Trump and Vice President Pence. As the […]
US Congress certifies Biden win after Trump mob storms Capitol Read More »
USA
Washington (AFP) – Every living former US president on Wednesday denounced the violence of a mob that stormed the Capitol building in Washington, forcing lawmakers to flee to safety and leaving one woman dead. The crowd, made up of supporters of President Donald Trump, opposed the certification underway in Congress of Joe Biden’s presidential election
Former US presidents denounce Capitol violence Read More »
USA
Jan. 6, 2021, should have been another proud day for American democracy, with Congress formally ratifying the results of a free and fair election, signaling the peaceful transition of power and determining Joe Biden will become the next president of the United States. Instead, it will go down as a dark day in the history
Editorial: Concede or resign, President Trump Read More »
USA
ATLANTA — Democrats swept Georgia’s two U.S. Senate runoffs on Wednesday to flip control of the chamber, pulling off stunning victories that will shape President-elect Joe Biden’s administration and transform the state’s political landscape. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock narrowly defeated U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler after a nine-week runoff that attracted record-setting
Democrats sweep Georgia’s runoffs, flip control of US Senate Read More »
USA
Because of the disruptions and criminal trespass at the Capitol by a mob of President Trump’s supporters, some may be tempted to remember January 6, 2021, as one of the worst days for American democracy. And they would be right! Our coverage may be found in companion articles about the demonstration that turned violent and forced postponement of the counting of the Electoral College votes by a joint session of Congress. Ironically, January 6, 2021, also was one of American democracy’s best days because it demonstrated that racism and anti-Semitism, at least in the halls of government and in the polling places of Georgia, are on the wane. Furthermore, the value that Americans place on racial and religious diversity is on full display. [Donald H. Harrison]
January 6 was the worst and best of times Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USA
ATLANTA — Control of the U.S. Senate hung in the balance Tuesday as Georgians rushed to the polls to decide a pair of runoffs that will shape President-elect Joe Biden’s legislative agenda. The contests were too early to call Tuesday evening as campaigns braced for an extended vote count. The stakes were monumental as Republican
Georgia US Senate races still to too close to call Read More »
USA
WASHINGTON — Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley claimed on Twitter Monday night that his family faced vandalism and threats of violence during a protest outside of their northern Virginia home, but video posted by activists and a description from local police don’t match his account. The protest took place ahead of his planned objection to
The mid-life journey that led me back to college began in the mikvah. I had been observing the laws of Niddah (aka “Family Purity” or Taharat haMishpacha) for about six years when this immersion initiated a series of changes that brings me to where I am today. The night of this immersion (momentous only in retrospect), I had been struggling with post-partum hip pain for about a year and a half that no amount of physical therapy or chiropractic treatments was fixing. This night, the pain was unusually bad as I limped sideways down the mikvah steps. The attendant asked with clear concern in her voice, “Do you need help?” I said, “No, it only hurts”. But stairs had never hurt that bad. [Isobel-Marie Johnston]
Out of the Mikvah and onto a Ph.D Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
The new chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Tuesday he would look to resume humanitarian aid to the Palestinians as part of a push by President-elect Joe Biden for a two-state solution. In an interview with AFP, Representative Gregory Meeks also supported the return of a diplomatic presence following outgoing President Donald Trump’s
New House foreign affairs chief eyes resuming US aid to Palestinians Read More »
Middle East, USA
To anyone paying attention the last four years, Trump’s refusal to accept that he lost the 2020 presidential election fair and square could not truly come as a surprise. That he would never concede was practically a given. What we could not know (and still do not know) with any certainty is just how far Trump will go to maintain his grip on power. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
OpEd: Power versus Duty in American politics Read More »
Sam Ben-Meir, USA
[Photo: Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images] On Jan. 6, the United States Congress will gather in a joint session to tally the votes of the Electoral College, which cast its ballots in state capitols last month. In his role as president of the Senate, Vice President Mike Pence is slated to officially announce Joe Biden as the
Washington (AFP) – For three years and 11 months Mike Pence has been Donald Trump’s most devoted footsoldier, but in the administration’s closing weeks the vice president faces intense pressure from his boss to thwart final certification of the election that they lost. US election law dictates that Pence preside over Wednesday’s joint session of
Pence: Man in the middle as Trump seeks unlikely miracle Read More »
USACounty Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, in a demonstration of bipartisanship on Tuesday, Jan. 5, yielded the ceremonial board position of chairman pro tempore to County Supervisor Joel Anderson after she was nominated to the position by Supervisor Nora Vargas, who had also successfully nominated herself for vice chair and County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher as board chair. [Donald H. Harrison]
Lawson-Remer receives major committee assignments Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA
Not so long ago, the dangers posed by global warming and climate change loomed off in the future, allowing Americans to put off finding solutions. But tomorrow has arrived, and the new reality is impossible to deny. The years from 2015 through 2020 were the hottest six years on record for the planet. The past
Editorial: Joe Biden and the reality of climate change Read More »
USA