Monday, November 28, 2016

Trump camp: recounts are for sore losers



Guardian US Briefing

Trump camp: recounts are for sore losers

President-elect claims he won popular vote if 'illegal votes' are subtracted, without offering evidence; NRA eyes big expansion of gun rights; Opec wary of Trump presidency

Donald Trump
Donald Trump took aim at the election recount in a tweet storm on Sunday. Photograph: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images

Mazin Sidahmed


Trump takes aim at election recount

On Sunday, president-elect Donald Trump wrote on Twitter that he only lost the popular vote because millions of people voted illegally, but failed to provide any evidence. "In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally," he wrote. His comments were one of a storm of tweets aimed at the campaign to recount the votes in crucial states. Green party candidate Jill Stein raised close to $5m in a few days to file for a recount in Wisconsin, which she did on Friday. Hillary Clinton's campaign – in a break from the White House – said it would have its lawyers on hand during the recount to ensure it was fair to all sides. Trump and his camp have dismissed the effort, with senior adviser Kellyanne Conway saying on Sunday morning that Stein and Clinton were "a bunch of crybabies and sore losers".

Trump claims 'millions voted illegally' but offers no evidence

NRA seizes 'historic moment'

After spending nearly $30m in ad buys to help get Trump elected, the National Rifle Association is hoping to seize "this historic moment to go on offense", CEO Wayne LaPierre told members in a post-election video address. The association's nearly decade-long message that the president wants to confiscate their guns is coming to an end. While the NRA has accomplished a lot of the things, there are still a few items on the agenda. One is a law to allow owners to carry a concealed weapon across state lines, which Trump has already endorsed. Eliminating gun-free zones will also likely be a priority. With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress, the NRA may also push for the deregulation of some weapons, such as gun silencers, and more.

'Our moment to go on offense': NRA makes big plans for Trump presidency

Opec worries about Trump

When the members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries meet on 30 November, Donald Trump will be the main topic of conversation. Trump campaigned on freeing the US oil industry of regulations, meaning Opec must now consider the prospect of increased production and potentially another price fall. Saudi Arabia may have the support of other states to cap production to raise the price. However, Barclays analyst Michael Cohen said Trump's election has put Opec in a difficult position. "One must question how willing Iran will be now to participate in limitations on its output given that its path to economic success just became more challenging. If Iran is not going to be willing to negotiate, neither will the Saudis," Cohen said in a research note.

Opec meeting to focus on Donald Trump amid fears of falling oil prices

Trump would 'absolutely' reverse Cuba thaw without further concessions

Trump's team is pushing for a tougher line with Cuba's new regime, after a thawing of relations with the US under Barack Obama. Trump's incoming chief of staff, Reince Priebus, said he would "absolutely" reverse Barack Obama's stance on Cuba unless there was a move towards open markets, freedom of religion and other things. The historic agreement to work to end the US embargo on Cuba began in December 2014. Trump's camp has stopped short of saying they will reinstate sanctions. "He's a businessman. He's been interested in doing business in Cuba. There is not a whole lot of interest in rolling back Cuba policy," said Gregory Weeks, an expert on US-Cuba relations at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte.

Trump aides threaten hard line as Cuba steps into the unknown

Former Cuban castaway: Castro 'was a friend'

Elián González, who was at the center of an international custody which Fidel Castro championed, praised the deceased leader on Sunday. "Fidel was a friend who at a difficult moment was with my family, with my father, and made it possible for me to return to my father, to return to Cuba," González said. He came into the international spotlight after he and his mother fled to the US without his father in 1999. His mother died on the trip but he survived, leaving his father to call for custody. Castro made the issue a national cause célèbre, and led huge demonstrations demanding Elián be returned to his father. US authorities eventually sent him back.

Elián González praises Fidel Castro 17 years after infamous custody battle

Alt-right rabbit hole

A curious remain voter in the UK took a plunge into the world of the "alt-right" and unknowingly became a racist, the anonymous author recalls. It began out of a desire to learn what the "other side" was thinking, until he or she started to get convinced. However, a reference to the red pill in The Matrix jolted the author out of it. "Until that moment I hadn't even realised that 'alt-right' was what I was becoming; I just thought I was a more open-minded person for tolerating these views."

'Alt-right' online poison nearly turned me into a racist

Support the Guardian's fearless journalism

Never has America needed fearless independent media more. Help us hold the new president to account, sort fact from fiction, amplify underrepresented voices, and understand the forces behind this divisive election – and what happens next. Support the Guardian by becoming a member or making a contribution.

Thinktank cautions against Trump's protectionism

Trade tensions risk denting global growth, stoking inflation and harming living standards, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development wrote. While its report did not specifically name Donald Trump, it warned that the success of the president-elect, who campaigned on an anti-globalization platform, has raised alarm bells.

Protectionism and trade disputes threaten world growth, says OECD

In case you missed it...

A Moroccan state TV program sparked horror after running a segment showing women how to hide domestic abuse. The segment on a morning TV show had a make-up artist showing women how to cover bruises: "We hope these beauty tips will help you carry on with your daily life."

#aworldadrift Morocco TV. Makeup tutorial show how abused women can hide bruises. 🇼️🇹️🇫️😒 pic.twitter.com/xk1AlCEkpT

— CaLi (@CurioGorilla) November 26, 2016

Moroccan state TV shows women how to hide domestic violence

You are receiving this email because you are a subscriber to Guardian US Briefing. Guardian News & Media Limited - a member of Guardian Media Group PLC. Registered Office: 222 Broadway, 22nd and 23rd Floors, New York, New York, 10038


No comments:

Post a Comment