Secretary of Defense Mark Esper Trump’s first post-election firing

Defense Secretary Mark Esper fired via Trump tweet

From The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper, a stunning and unprecedented move at a time of national uncertainty about the outcome of Trump’s bid for a second term. The move could be seen as unsettling for the Pentagon and a source of concern for international allies and partners.

It is the first time in the modern era that a president seeking reelection has removed his Pentagon chief after Election Day. Presidents who win reelection often replace Cabinet members, including the secretary of defense, but losing presidents have kept their Pentagon chiefs in place until Inauguration Day to preserve stability in the name of national security.

Esper’s strained relationship with Trump came close to collapse last summer during civil unrest that triggered a debate within the administration over the proper role of the military in combatting domestic unrest. Esper’s opposition to using active duty troops to help quell protests in Washington, D.C., infuriated Trump, and led to wide speculation that the defense chief was prepared to quit if faced with such an issue again.

Christopher Miller, who serves as director of the National Counterterrorism Center, will become acting secretary “effective immediately.”

Related news stories:

Trump fires Defense Secretary Mark Esper in a tweet (Washington Post)
Trump fires Secretary of Defense Mark Esper (CNN)


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Is a bipartisan climate policy possible under Biden?

Biden’s 40 years of experience reaching across the Senate aisle may help him to craft a stable climate plan, though not the one that progressives hoped for.

By Marianne Lavelle, Inside Climate News

Joe Biden takes off his face mask to speak during a drive-in campaign rally at Bucks County Community College on Oct. 24, 2020 in Bristol, Pennsylvania. Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Many environmentalists hoped that Joe Biden would become the FDR of climate change.

But if, as seems likely, Biden emerges as the winner of a deeply divisive presidential election, in which the Republican Party retains control of the Senate, it is more likely he will need the skills of an LBJ. And climate policy, in a Biden era, could end up looking more like President Lyndon Baines Johnson’s hard-fought civil rights legislation than President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s sweeping New Deal, say veterans of Washington’s energy policy battles.

When Biden campaigned on a $2 trillion climate plan, the most ambitious ever proposed by a major party candidate, the Democrats were aiming to pick up the three Senate seats they needed for a majority that would support Biden’s plan. And although that is still a distant possibility, the results from Tuesday’s election so far show Republicans have held onto contested seats in Maine, Montana, Iowa and South Carolina, and remain ahead in Alaska and North Carolina.

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Now the Democrats’ best chance to gain full control of Congress is to win both of the two Senate runoff races set for January in Georgia, a state that has not elected a Democratic senator since 1997. If Republicans maintain Senate control, any Biden climate legislation would have to get past Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a skilled legislative blockader and a longtime Kentucky ally of the coal industry.

But industry and environmental advocates alike say that Biden, who spent more than 40 years in the Senate, is uniquely suited to the challenge of dealing with McConnell—and with former colleagues of both parties. They are anticipating that Biden will be able to do more in the face of a hostile Congress than did President Barack Obama, who relied on a series of executive actions on climate that President Donald Trump has spent the past four years overturning.

Read the full story

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NJ casino regulators give green light to new Bally’s owner

By David Danzis, Atlantic City Press

The Casino Control Commission approved Twin River’s interim casino authorization — a preliminary step toward full casino licensure — but stipulated that $25 million of capital improvements should begin within the first year of ownership and at least $75 million over the first three years. Rhode Island-based Twin River committed to spending a minimum of $90 million over five years at Bally’s.

“It is clear that Twin River’s executive team has put a great deal of thought into the best path to improve Bally’s fading conditions,” said James Plousis, chairman of the Casino Control Commission. “Given the amount of improvements planned in the first year, we expect a considerable progress report at the plenary licensing hearing next year.”

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Twin River agreed to purchase Bally’s for $25 million from Caesars Entertainment Inc. and VICI Properties. The sale is expected to close within the next two weeks.

“Twin River is going to be the new owner and operator of this property, and I feel, and I’m confident, with the testimony that was presented, that they possess the right vision, the right management and the experience, and that this once grand property will be restored, renovated and updated to become a vital and competitive part of the gaming industry in Atlantic City,” Commissioner Alisa Cooper said.

Those plans include a permanent FanDuel sportsbook in the space where the former Blue Martini lounge was, the renovation of more than 900 hotel rooms, the creation of 30 to 40 mini suites, a new restaurant and bar portfolio that will be open by summer and a revamped spa and fitness center.

Those plans include a permanent FanDuel sportsbook in the space where the former Blue Martini lounge was, the renovation of more than 900 hotel rooms, the creation of 30 to 40 mini suites, a new restaurant and bar portfolio that will be open by summer and a revamped spa and fitness center.

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They’re dancing in the streets for Biden, Harris

By BILLYPENN

Philadelphia erupted yesterday in giant party as Biden won and Harris made history.

People were shouting, children were whistling, horns were honking and the days-long dance party that started earlier this week erupted across the city as people learned their state had been called for Joe Biden, and with it, the presidency.

Philadelphians were equally excited about Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who will make history as the nation’s first woman, first Black and first South Asian American VP.

“I feel amazing,” one South Philly resident told Billy Penn. “Such a relief, so much joy, so much hope where there wasn’t hope before.”

A Rollicking N.Y.C. Celebration for Biden’s Win, Well Into the Night

From the New York Times

People cheered, danced, broke out champagne and honked horns in New York City, which is President Trump’s hometown but had turned on him.

European and allied leaders didn’t wait for President Trump to concede.

From VOX

In the hours after the race was called by several news outlets, world leaders sent out tweets of support, with many allies promising to work closely with the next president.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, for instance, called the US and Canada “close friends, partners, and allies” with a “relationship that’s unique on the world stage,” and said, “I’m really looking forward to working together and building on that with you both.”

One of President Trump’s closest European friends, United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson, also sent out congratulations to Biden and Harris, noting he hoped to collaborate on climate change — an area Trump has clashed with his European counterparts on — as well as trade, a pressing issue for a United Kingdom set to soon finalize its exit from the European Union.

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Finally, it’s over. Biden wins, Trump loses

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, positioning himself to lead a nation gripped by the historic pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil.

His victory came after more than three days of uncertainty as election officials sorted through a surge of mail-in votes that delayed the processing of some ballots. Biden crossed 270 Electoral College votes with a win in Pennsylvania.

Biden, 77, staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. The strategy proved effective, resulting in pivotal victories in Michigan and Wisconsin as well as Pennsylvania, onetime Democratic bastions that had flipped to Trump in 2016.

Biden was on track to win the national popular vote by more than 4 million, a margin that could grow as ballots continue to be counted.

Trump seized on delays in processing the vote in some states to falsely allege voter fraud and argue that his rival was trying to seize power — an extraordinary charge by a sitting president trying to sow doubt about a bedrock democratic process.

As the vote count played out, Biden tried to ease tensions and project an image of presidential leadership, hitting notes of unity that were seemingly aimed at cooling the temperature of a heated, divided nation.

Read full story

Related news stories:
Joseph R. Biden Jr. Has Won the Presidency (NY Times)
World leaders congratulate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris (CNN)
Joe Biden Wins 2020 Presidential Election (Wall Street Journal)



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New Jersey Coronavirus Update

By NJ Spotlight

Public-health statistics continued to head in the wrong direction for New Jersey today, a third straight day with more than 2,000 new cases reported and a new recent high set in those being treated for COVID-19 at hospitals in New Jersey.

200 cases or more were again reported in Essex, Bergen and Passaic counties, and more than 100 were seen in six others: Hudson, Middlesex, Union, Camden, Monmouth and Burlington.

Murphy again said officials were considering restrictions to help curb the spike in cases, but again gave no specifics.

“We’re working on making sure we got a right balance between strategic, scalpel-like actions and some broader actions that we will almost certainly take sooner than later,” he said today.


 

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