U.S. Election Briefing for Australia: Trump Legacy Cemented As Barrett Supreme...

“A lot of what we have done in the last four years will sooner or later be undone in the next elections. You won’t be able to do much about it for a long time. ”

This is how Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell celebrated the elevation of Amy Coney Barrett to the US Supreme Court. Barrett, a Conservative who had previously advocated the overturning of the landmark Roe v Wade abortion decision, was ratified by the Senate Monday night after an accelerated and highly controversial process that filled the position vacated by progressive icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

McConnell was right – even if the Democrats win next week, the right-wing bloc now has a 6-3 majority in the country’s highest court. It could prove to be the most momentous aspect of Trump’s legacy.

My US colleague Tom McCarthy writes, “Every topic of concern to progressive activists, from the fundamental right of every American to vote, to the need for regulations to protect employees from dangerous working conditions and consumers from predatory lenders, is here at stake chopping block with Barrett on the pitch ”. The same goes for the Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare, which is expected to be brought to justice soon after the election.

Even more imminent, however, a number of voting rights cases that could help determine the election are expected to reach the court within the next week (one critical case ruled in favor of the Republicans today – more on that later). The choice itself, if the outcome is controversial, could also be decided by the court. You can read our full report here.

It is worth noting, however, that there are some in the progressive wing of Democrats who do not accept that “there is not much they can do”. There were further calls on Monday evening to increase the number of judges on the square. JOe Biden has so far only committed to reviewing the judiciary.

New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said it was time for her party to play hardball. “There is a legal process for enlargement,” she tweeted.

The big stories

The contestants argued today over their campaign styles. Donald Trump said his opponent, who did not hold major rallies, “waved the white flag of life” while Biden punished the president for holding “super-spreader events”.

The US Supreme Court sided with the Republicans to prevent Wisconsin from counting mail-in ballots received after election day, even if they were posted beforehand. Democrats argued that the deluge of postal ballot papers and other challenges arising from the pandemic will require an increase in the length of time that ballots can be counted.

And Republican lawmakers in North Carolina, another major swing state, have asked the US Supreme Court to stop a recent court ruling that would extend their state’s deadline for absentee ballots. Democrats say it is an attempt to disenfranchise voters.

International efforts to curb dangerous global warming will depend in large part on which of Trump’s or Biden’s dichotomous approaches prevails. This deep insight into the candidates’ climate policies explains why.

Does Mail-In Voting Create Fraud & Will It Help Democrats? In this statement, we look at all of the big questions surrounding the postal voting surge this year.

The equity markets in the US and Europe fell sharply Investors focused on signs that rich countries’ efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic were failing.

The Republican Party has become dramatically more illiberal over the past two decades According to a new international study, it now more closely resembles the ruling parties in autocratic societies than their earlier center-right counterparts in Europe.

quote of the Day

President Trump’s guidelines are the guidelines that can help people break out of the problems they are complaining about, but he cannot want them to be more successful than them. ”

Always the Tom Wambsgans of the Trump family, Jared Kushner spoke about supporting the Black Community.

Wahlansicht

Democrats face the problems with postal ballot papers because it is their candidates who will suffer if the votes are not countedNathan Robinson argues in this blunt piece. It’s not about fraud, he says, but about the many shortcomings of postal voting in America today.

“Scott Morrison is the world’s first Pentecostal Christian to lead a democratic country. But Donald Trump’s presidency is much more Pentecost than Morrison’s prime ministry. “ writes David Smith in this fascinating look at the differences between the role of religion in politics in Australia and the United States.

Video of the day

Trump has denied the scientific evidence of global warming and disrupted environmental protection for American countries, animals and people. Here is a statement on climate change and the elections.

On the Internet

The rise in early voting is interpreted by some commentators as a sign of an impending “blue wave”. This sharp piece out Really clear policy pour cold water on this optimism, arguing, “this is all speculation disguised as news”.

Dies Thirty-five Piece is a week old but still worth reading – on Trump’s growing and slipping support among some populations. Interestingly, surveys suggest that he has expanded his attraction to young men with color.

And when there was any doubt that “owning the libraries” was a key philosophy that now guided the GOP, Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee celebrated the news of Barrett’s confirmation before the Supreme Court: by sarcastically saying, “Happy Birthday, Hillary Clinton! ”Tweet.

What the numbers say: 2.492

The number of new Covid cases in Pennsylvania on Monday is a new record in the crucial swing state of nearly 13 million people. Trump held three rallies that day.

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