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In the wake of a Facebook ban and dimming electoral hopes for President Trump, the Stop the Steal movement is finding a home on smaller platforms and in-person rallies. A movement supporting Trumps false claims of election fraud and hoping to halt the ongoing vote-certification process, Stop the Steal groups are currently promoting pro-Trump rallies in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Georgia, and organizing through platforms like Parler and Discord.

President Trump has the votes, wrote Marjorie Taylor Greene, a QAnon supporter newly elected to Congress, on Parler. But the Democrats, Big Tech, and the Fake News Media are trying to STEAL this election. You and I cannot let that happen! This is the biggest VOTER FRAUD operation in American history...STOP THE STEAL. Greene has 16,000 followers on the app.

The Stop the Steal Facebook group, which launched on Wednesday, was filled with similar election misinformation about Democrats rigging the vote. It was organized by Republican operatives and had ties to the tea party, according to Mother Jones. The group grew to over 300,000 members in less than 48 hours only to be banned by Facebook once moderators caught on. Over that short period, the group became a central hub for election misinformation, leaving users to look for new places to organize in the wake of the ban.

Facebook and TikTok have also moved to block hashtags that were used to spread election conspiracy theories on Thursday, like #StoptheSteal. Twitter told The Verge that it was proactively monitoring them. Big Techs efforts to curb voting misinformation have led users to organize on different platforms. On YouTube, One American News Network (OANN) posted videos declaring that Trump won the election, which YouTube limited somewhat but did not block outright.

Organizers have found the most success on Parler, a social network designed for conservatives put off by moderation practices of the major platforms. On Thursday, there were 8,697 posts on Parler with the #StopTheSteal hashtag. Many of these posts also mentioned without evidence the silencing of conservatives on Facebook and Twitter. Videos of Stop the Steal protests got upwards of 2,000 votes (Parlers version of likes). The hashtag #VoterFraud had 18,426 posts, much of it focused on unfounded rumors regarding Democrats tampering with the vote.

The lax moderation standards have proved attractive for conservatives like Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rand Paul (R-KY) as well as former congressional candidate and right-wing conspiracist Laura Loomer who was previously banned on Twitter. The app, which launched in 2018, has added 4 million users this year, growing by 1 million in the past six weeks alone.

Parler differentiates itself from Facebook and Twitter in its refusal to moderate content the big tech platforms have banned, including hate speech and misinformation. The apps community guidelines prohibit unlawful acts but little else. A spokesperson for the app told The Verge that he believes users spreading misinformation will only damage their own reputation and does not believe in content moderation rules even for extreme content like Holocaust denial. I trust the system, he told The Verge, and dont worry about the outliers.

On Parler, the person with the handle @StopTheSteal shared unfounded rumors about voter fraud and urged followers to show up at Stop the Steal rallies across the United States. He also set up a Discord where users ranted about censorship on the big tech platforms, which does not actually exist, and promoted stop the count protests in Los Angeles and Norwalk, California.

At a rally at the capitol building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Trump supporters carried signs reading Stop the Steal and waved American flags. Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) joined the event, telling supporters, We want the ballots and the votes that are counted to be legal, to be valid. The comments insinuate this isnt the case although theres no evidence to support that viewpoint.

Some affiliated groups have been stoked by seasoned political operatives, although most have few firm ties to the Republican Party. Right Wing Watch reported this week that some Stop the Steal events trace back to a Roger Stone associate named Ali Alexander, who launched a similar but less successful campaign in 2018. Alexander said in a Periscope stream on Wednesday that he was organizing thousands and thousands and thousands of people to attend rallies in contested districts across the country.

Progressive groups seeking to encourage the continued counting of votes have also started to organize over social media. Count Every Vote rallies have been held in states like New York and Pennsylvania over the last few days. Larger coalitions, like Protect the Results, have not activated their over 150 groups into mobilization but said on Thursday that it remains vigilant.

As millions of votes are counted and with Joe Bidens lead in several key states growing, the Protect the Results coalition is announcing that it will not be activating the entire national mobilization network [Thursday], but remains ready to activate if necessary, the organization said in a statement on Thursday. While the coalition will not be activating its national network, some local organizers may still hold Count Every Vote events in their community.

The app has become particularly active during the week of the 2020 election, when Facebook and Twitter went to greater lengths to stamp out misinformation about the vote. SoCal Trump Train Events & Rallies, a Facebook group with 12,100 members, urged people to join them on Parler on Thursday in anticipation of getting shut down.

In a statement emailed to The Verge, a spokesperson for Discord said: We are aware of the server referenced. At this stage, it has not broken any of our community guidelines. More broadly, Discord is proactively monitoring our entire service for election mis- and dis-information that may lead to real-world harm. We take swift action when we become aware of these issues including banning users, servers, and when appropriate, contacting the proper authorities.

Update November 6th, 8:57PM ET: Article updated with statement from Discord.

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Stop the Steal spreads across the internet after infecting Facebook - The Verge

For immediate release

November 6, 2020Contact: U.S. Term LimitsPhone: (321) 428-4235Press@termlimits.com

Term Limits Tidal Wave as Record Number of Pledge Signers Elected to Congress

Washington, D.C. Even as ballot counting continues, a record number of term limits supporters have been elected to the U.S. Congress. U.S. Term Limits is proud to announce that at least 93 members of the incoming 117th Congress have taken the pledge to support a resolution to place term limits on Congress. With more votes still being counted and a few special elections on the horizon, that number is likely to increase.

Its a big deal. Nearly one hundred incoming Congress members have signed our term limits pledge promising to term limit Congress, says Stacey Selleck, Digital Director at U.S. Term Limits. Were optimistic about having bipartisan support on an amendment that focuses on the desperately needed election reform that term limits bring, Selleck added.

Lawmakers who signed the pledge were elected from nearly every state including many new signers in Michigan, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and Tennessee. The states with the largest count of pledge signers are Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania and New York. Incumbent senators who support the term limits resolution include Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Pat Toomey, Dan Crenshaw, Rand Paul and incoming senator Tommy Tuberville.

The U.S. Term Limits congressional pledge is provided to every announced candidate for federal office. It reads, I pledge that as a member of Congress, I will cosponsor and vote for the U.S. Term Limits amendment of three (3) House terms and two (2) Senate terms and no longer limit. The U.S. Term Limits constitutional amendment has been introduced in both the U.S. Senate by Senator Ted Cruz (SJR1) and the U.S. House by Representative Francis Rooney (HJR20).

Having Congress propose the amendment is just one path to a term limits victory. U.S. Term Limits is also working towards getting the state legislatures to propose the amendment. Once proposed, regardless of method, it must be ratified by 38 states in order to become the next amendment to the Constitution.

Our goal is to fix a broken seniority system by invigorating Congress with a diversity of experiences, says Selleck. This is a sharp contrast to the current Congress that has expertise being adept at political shenanigans depriving the country of true representation, Selleck concluded.

According toa 2018 nationwide poll on term limits conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, term limits enjoy wide bipartisan support. McLaughlins analysis states, Support for term limits is broad and strong across all political, geographic and demographic groups. An overwhelming 82% of voters approve of a constitutional amendment that will place term limits on members of Congress.

To see a list of the incoming Congressional pledge signers, visit https://www.termlimits.com/117thCongressPledgeSigners.pdf.

###

______________________U.S. Term Limits is the largest grassroots term limits advocacy group in the country. We connect term limits supporters with their legislators and work to pass term limits on all elected officials, particularly on the U.S. Congress. Find out more attermlimits.org.

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Term Limits Tidal Wave as Record Number of Pledge Signers Elected to Congress - U.S. Term Limits

Joe Biden won key several battleground states like Michigan and Wisconsin. USA TODAY

After the Associated Press named former Vice President Joe Biden president-elect of the United States Saturday morning, several notable Kentucky figures took to Twitter to express their reactions.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, congratulated Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris Saturday afternoon.

"Congratulations to President-elect @JoeBiden and Vice President-elect @KamalaHarris. We will work with the incoming administration, as we have the current White House, to improve lives and opportunities for every Kentuckian," Beshear wrote.

He added: "Now, the election is over and it is time to come together as Americans and as Kentuckians. We are in the fight of our lifetime against COVID-19 and we must unite to battle this virus that has killed 235,000 Americans including more than 1,500 Kentuckians."

Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, a Democrat, congratulated Biden and Harris and noted the historical nature of this victory.

"Congratulations to President-elect@JoeBiden!" Coleman wrote. "America voted in record numbers, and this election is historically significant as Vice President-elect @KamalaHarris is the first woman and woman of color to win."

She also gave a shout-out to incoming First Lady Jill Biden: "I am also proud our incoming First Lady@DrBiden is a lifelong educator! In her, our children will have a strong advocate."

U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, a Democrat representing Kentucky's Third CongressionalDistrict, which includes Louisville, said the win is a "BFD."

"Congratulations to President-Elect Joe Biden," Yarmuth said. "Im looking forward to serving with you again. Thank you, Joe, and thank you, Beau."

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer tweeted his congratulations to both Biden and Harris Saturday afternoon.

"America is best when we purposefully align our many diverse viewpoints around hope, compassion and opportunity," Fischer wrote."Congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris as they begin the good and noble work of unifying our great country."

State Rep. Charles Booker, a Louisville Democrat who narrowly lost the party's nomination for U.S. Senate this year, used a signature line of President Donald Trump from when he hosted NBC reality show, "The Apprentice."

'Youre fired. America," Booker wrote in a tweet.

From immigration to health care: How will a Biden presidency impact Kentucky?

Former Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Amy McGrath, who recently lost her bid to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, congratulated Biden, who gave a stump speech for her back in 2018 during her failed run against U.S. Rep. Andy Barr.

"Almost 10 months ago, I proudly endorsed Vice President @JoeBiden," McGrath wrote."Im proud to now call him President-Elect."

Sadiqa Reynolds, the head of the Louisville Urban League, tweeted out a photo of CNN calling the race for Biden with a chyron that reads "Joseph R. Biden Jr. Elected 46th President."

She then tweeted out a photo ofHarris, thefirstfemale,first BlackandfirstSouth Asian person to be named vice president-elect.

"The Voting Rights Act was 55 years ago," Reynolds wrote on the tweet of Harris' photo

Kentucky Senate Minority Leader Morgan McGarvey, a Louisville Democrat, wrote: "I had no idea the emotions I would feel when it became final.

"Congratulations President-elect @JoeBidenand Vice President-elect @KamalaHarris!!!" he said.

Aaron Jordan,a leader of the grassroots group No Justice No PeaceLouisville that has been demanding justice for Breonna Taylor, an unarmed Black woman shot by police in her own apartment on March 13, wrote in a Facebook group for the group that "WE DID IT MFS."

"BLACK VOTES MATTER!!" SHT AT THIS POINT EVERY MF BODY VOTE MATTERS" Jordan wrote. "NO MORE TRUMP!!! OMG WE CAN WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE!!!!

Hannah Drake, a Louisville activist, poet and author, wrote in a tweet that "clearly we have A LOT of work to do in this nation."

"But for the past four years to deal with the President and his racism. His tweets calling Africa a place with shithole countries. Knowing as a Black woman the President disregards my life.

"He emboldened so many racists," Drake wrote in a separate tweet."We had to live EVERY DAY listening reading and dealing w/ hate. And Covid. The lies that cost so many lives. You never knew from day to day what you would wake up to. Do we have work to do? YES! But my God I am glad that racist is out of OUR HOUSE!"

F. Bruce Williams, a seniorpastor atBates Memorial Baptist Church in Louisville, wrote that "history has been made."

Williams also looked ahead in his tweet to the Kentucky U.S. Senate race in 2022, when U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican, is up for reelection.

"(Charles Booker)you are going to make history too when we put you in the Senate," Williams wrote."Its time for change!!!"

State Rep. Kelly Flood, a Democrat from Lexington, posted a photo from CNN calling the race for Biden Saturday morning.

"#PresidentElectJoe #VicePresidentElectHarris November 7th, 2020, 11:30a! Character matters!" Flood wrote.

This story will update.

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Contact Ben Tobin at bjtobin@gannett.comand502-377-5675 or follow on Twitter @Ben__Tobin.

Read or Share this story: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/07/elections-2020-kentuckians-react-call-president-elect-joe-biden/6202938002/

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How some Kentucky leaders are reacting to Joe Biden being named president-elect of the U.S. - Courier Journal

Congressional lawmakers from both major parties are transfixed on the post-election vote count drama, witnesses to extraordinary living history.For some of them, wary of running afoul of the president and badgered by a persistent media, there is a hesitancy to react in any sort of substantive, at-length way.President Donald Trump's assertion that the election is being stolen from him was media topic one, two, three and four for Kentucky's Mitch McConnell in Frankfort this morning. With a wry smile, he patiently responded in pretty much the same way each time he was asked if he agreed with the president's claims."I think what I said in the tweet this morning," he said, meaning read the tweet and you'll have my answer.When asked what he would do if the president refused to accept the results, McConnell said, "I'm not going to answer any hypotheticals about where we go from here. I think this is ultimately going to be decided exactly what I said in my tweet."The final line of McConnell's tweet reads, "the courts are here to apply the laws & resolve disputes."Trumpism and disputes seem inextricably linked.Pundits see the battle with Joe Biden as leaving an electorate rawly-divided by toxic politics, split apart with suspicion, distrust and anger. They believe Senate bipartisanship is likely doomed as a result.We asked two seasoned hands of differing persuasions how they did it -- Democrat David Pepper, a state party chair, and Republican Bill Seitz, a state representative, collaborated on legislation back when Pepper was a Hamilton County Commissioner.The issue involved inmates losing Medicaid coverage when they entered the prison system.Pepper thought it was a self-defeating situation to have someone serve time and emerge from jail to find themselves knocked off Medicaid.He contacted Seitz who began working on legislation to only suspend Medicaid coverage during the time an inmate was serving his or her sentence. Once completed, the coverage would pick back up under Statehouse legislation that was approved with bipartisan support.It's the kind of thing, as both men noted, that does not generate headlines but has profound positive impact on the lives of thousands of people over time. Both have had impact on Ohio's voting process and Seitz cited six changes the Republican-led Ohio Legislature got approved that have helped the state avoid the type of election season problems some other states are now having.Lessons from 2020? "Polling is about as good as a Ouija board," said Seitz.Pepper took hyper-partisanship to the task."I mean, for goodness sakes, the American people are so tired of watching a Senate that does nothing," he told us.Majority Leader McConnell said it's too soon to know if he'll still have that title after two Georgia runoff's in January.Kentucky's other Senator, Rand Paul, tweeted, "Policing postmarks, signatures and fraud is now overwhelming because half the electorate votes by mail."McConnell told reporters Friday he talks with the president frequently, but wouldn't elaborate on what they talked about in regard to the current situation. And he would not relent when pressed on the rigged election claim."It won't make any difference how many times you ask," McConnell said again, "I've already given you my answer."In a written statement, Second District Congressman Brad Wenstrup, easily re-elected Tuesday night, reacted by saying: "To ensure that we have fair elections, we must ensure all LEGAL votes are counted with complete transparency. The processes that are taking place in certain states today, understandably, leave so much room for doubt especially when Americans have many reasons to be doubtful. The President, as well as any candidate running for office, is entitled to and should challenge all instances of impropriety so that Americans can be confident in the outcome of our elections. Finally, we should be happy that, here in Ohio, our process was fair, accessible, transparent, and completed on time."Ohio Sen. Rob Portman tweeted, "once the final count has been completed, we will abide by the results, as we always have as Americans."

Congressional lawmakers from both major parties are transfixed on the post-election vote count drama, witnesses to extraordinary living history.

For some of them, wary of running afoul of the president and badgered by a persistent media, there is a hesitancy to react in any sort of substantive, at-length way.

President Donald Trump's assertion that the election is being stolen from him was media topic one, two, three and four for Kentucky's Mitch McConnell in Frankfort this morning. With a wry smile, he patiently responded in pretty much the same way each time he was asked if he agreed with the president's claims.

"I think what I said in the tweet this morning," he said, meaning read the tweet and you'll have my answer.

When asked what he would do if the president refused to accept the results, McConnell said, "I'm not going to answer any hypotheticals about where we go from here. I think this is ultimately going to be decided exactly what I said in my tweet."

The final line of McConnell's tweet reads, "the courts are here to apply the laws & resolve disputes."

Trumpism and disputes seem inextricably linked.

Pundits see the battle with Joe Biden as leaving an electorate rawly-divided by toxic politics, split apart with suspicion, distrust and anger. They believe Senate bipartisanship is likely doomed as a result.

We asked two seasoned hands of differing persuasions how they did it -- Democrat David Pepper, a state party chair, and Republican Bill Seitz, a state representative, collaborated on legislation back when Pepper was a Hamilton County Commissioner.

The issue involved inmates losing Medicaid coverage when they entered the prison system.

Pepper thought it was a self-defeating situation to have someone serve time and emerge from jail to find themselves knocked off Medicaid.

He contacted Seitz who began working on legislation to only suspend Medicaid coverage during the time an inmate was serving his or her sentence. Once completed, the coverage would pick back up under Statehouse legislation that was approved with bipartisan support.

It's the kind of thing, as both men noted, that does not generate headlines but has profound positive impact on the lives of thousands of people over time.

Both have had impact on Ohio's voting process and Seitz cited six changes the Republican-led Ohio Legislature got approved that have helped the state avoid the type of election season problems some other states are now having.

Lessons from 2020?

"Polling is about as good as a Ouija board," said Seitz.

Pepper took hyper-partisanship to the task.

"I mean, for goodness sakes, the American people are so tired of watching a Senate that does nothing," he told us.

Majority Leader McConnell said it's too soon to know if he'll still have that title after two Georgia runoff's in January.

Kentucky's other Senator, Rand Paul, tweeted, "Policing postmarks, signatures and fraud is now overwhelming because half the electorate votes by mail."

McConnell told reporters Friday he talks with the president frequently, but wouldn't elaborate on what they talked about in regard to the current situation. And he would not relent when pressed on the rigged election claim.

"It won't make any difference how many times you ask," McConnell said again, "I've already given you my answer."

In a written statement, Second District Congressman Brad Wenstrup, easily re-elected Tuesday night, reacted by saying: "To ensure that we have fair elections, we must ensure all LEGAL votes are counted with complete transparency. The processes that are taking place in certain states today, understandably, leave so much room for doubt especially when Americans have many reasons to be doubtful. The President, as well as any candidate running for office, is entitled to and should challenge all instances of impropriety so that Americans can be confident in the outcome of our elections. Finally, we should be happy that, here in Ohio, our process was fair, accessible, transparent, and completed on time."

Ohio Sen. Rob Portman tweeted, "once the final count has been completed, we will abide by the results, as we always have as Americans."

View post:
Local lawmakers respond to allegations of voter fraud - WLWT Cincinnati

WASHINGTON There were a whole host of candidates and issues on the 2020 ballot beyond Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and many of those races will have dramatic implications for health and science policy in America.

Will Democrats keep or even grow their majority in the House? Can they take back enough seats to claim control in the Senate? Health care and science cropped up in several of the congressional races were watching, too, from a House campaign on Long Island to Senate contests in Kansas and North Carolina. Plus, voters in some states were also weighing in on issues like abortion access and marijuana legalization.

Throughout the week, STAT reporters in D.C., Boston, and beyond will keep track of the results that will have the biggest implications for health policy. Check back here for live updates.

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In Floridas 27th Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Donna Shalala, the former health secretary during the Clinton administration, lost her seat amid a Republican surge in Miami and its suburbs.

Democrats didnt take advantage of Shalalas health policy expertise during her single term in Congress: She wasnt assigned to any committees with health care jurisdiction, and she didnt play much of a role in Democrats signature health policy initiatives, including H.R. 3, their aggressive drug pricing bill. Still, Shalala was seen as an elder statesperson on health care issues. Shell be succeeded by her Republican challenger, the former television journalist Maria Elvira Salazar.

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Rep. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) defeated his Democratic opponent, Barbara Bollier, in a Senate race hyper-focused on health care. Bollier kept things surprisingly competitive in deep-red Kansas, but fell short despite a campaign focused on issues like Medicaid expansion, surprise billing, and Covid-19.

Marshall is a deeply conservative OB-GYN who becomes the Senates fourth Republican doctor, joining John Barrasso (Wyo.), Bill Cassidy (La.), and Rand Paul (Ky.). He made health care central to his own campaign, and has volunteered at Kansas hospitals helping to treat Covid-19 patients throughout the pandemic. Hes generated controversy, though, for past comments on Medicaid beneficiaries and for his advocacy for physician-owned hospitals. And on health policy, he was a bit of a 2020 anomaly: He campaigned on a pledge to repeal the Affordable Care Act a position many Republicans now view as a liability.

Republican Ronny Jackson, the former White House physician, won a Texas panhandle congressional seat Tuesday to represent one of the most conservative districts in the country.

Jackson became White House physician under former President Obama, but rose to national prominence when he said President Trump has incredible genes, I just assume during a 2018 press briefing about the presidents health. Trump then nominated Jackson to serve as Veterans Affairs secretary, but Jackson withdrew from the process amid allegations about his management of the White House medical unit and about his personal and professional conduct.

Jackson won the Republican primary for the congressional seat in part by aligning himself closely with Trump.

States around the country eased drug laws on Tuesday, with a handful legalizing different forms of marijuana and some jurisdictions taking the first steps to decriminalize possession of other drugs.

Voters in New Jersey, Montana, and Arizona opted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for people 21 and over, joining the dozen other states that have embraced the policy (and typically tax marijuana sales) despite it remaining illegal at the federal level. In Mississippi, voters approved a medical marijuana program. And in South Dakota, voters approved separate ballot measures that will legalize recreational and medical marijuana.

Residents in Oregon voted to legalize psilocybin, the active compound in certain hallucinogenic mushrooms, for use in mental health treatments. The state also voted to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs, including cocaine and heroin, while greenlighting new funding for addiction treatment and harm reduction programs. And in the District of Columbia, residents approved a measure to decriminalize the possession of some psychedelic plants, including magic mushrooms.

Days before the Supreme Court will decide whether or not it will take up a case that could far more strictly limit abortion, voters in Louisiana have decided to specifically prevent the states constitution from being used to mount challenges to abortion restrictions in the future.

Voters in Colorado, however, decided against barring abortions after 22 gestational weeks; the state is one of the few where people who need the procedure done during their third trimester of pregnancy can find physicians who are willing to provide it.

Voters in Oregon and Colorado both voted resoundingly to establish new taxes on vapor products like Juul. The initiatives in both states would also drastically increase existing taxes on cigarettes and other smokable tobacco products.

Voters in Oklahoma also rejected an initiative that would have diverted tens of millions from the states tobacco trust fund to fund expansion of the states Medicaid program. The initiative was opposed by tobacco control advocates including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Cameron Webb, a physician running as a Democrat in Virginias 5th Congressional District, conceded his race early Wednesday to Bob Good, a Republican. Webb ran a health care-focused campaign in the largely rural district, but didnt endorse Medicare for All, a hallmark of many more progressive Democrats 2020 campaigns. Had Webb won, he would have become the first Black doctor to serve in Congress (other than non-voting delegates).

Democratic upstart Quinn Nystrom was unsuccessful in her bid to unseat Republican Rep. Pete Stauber in Minnesotas 8th District.

Nystroms race, which was laser-focused on the issue of high drug prices, did not attract the national attention of other drug pricing-heavy races, like the effort to unseat Republican Sen. Thom Tillis in North Carolina, which is still too close to call. But Nystroms defeat is an early, albeit small, sign that drug pricing was not the animating issue activists had hoped it would be this election cycle.

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The 2020 election results that will impact health and science policy - STAT